49 - A FINE IRON SUKASHI TSUBA WITH A KIKU-FILLED BASKET, WARAJI, SCYTHE, FLUTE, AND KASA

A FINE IRON SUKASHI TSUBA WITH A KIKU-FILLED BASKET, WARAJI, SCYTHE, FLUTE, AND KASA Unsigned Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of kawarigata form, with kozuka- and kogai-hitsu-ana, finely worked in nikubori and yo-sukashi to depict a woven basket filled with flowering kiku (chrysanthemum) sprigs, accompanied by a scythe, flute, and waraji (straw sandals). The composition is particularly ingenious, the openwork structure of the basket on the obverse transforming on the reverse into a kasa (straw hat). Select details are finely picked out in gold nunomezogan. HEIGHT 7.5 cm, WIDTH 7.1 cm HEIGHT 2.9 cm (nakago-ana) THICKNESS 0.4 cm (seppa-dai) WEIGHT 73.5 g Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, mostly around the seppa-dai. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related iron tsuba with basket of chrysanthemums, unsigned, dated early 18 th century, 7.6 cm tall, in the Seattle Art Museum, accession number 34.90.