A JAPANESE TABAKO-IRE (TOBACCO POUCH) WITH MIXED METALS FITTINGS

A JAPANESE TABAKO-IRE (TOBACCO POUCH) WITH MIXED METALS FITTINGS
MEIJI ERA, 19TH CENTURY

The leather pouch with a mae-kanagu modelled as two samurais fighting a large tiger, one with a snake emerging from behind him and the other with a fox's tail; attached to an undecorated kiseruzutsu (pipe case) by a chain made of a series of shaped panels made of further mixed metals, each depicting one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune; together with a silver and iron kiseru (pipe) decorated with branches of bamboo; the tabako-ire 12.3cm, the kiseruzutsu 21cm. (2)