A JAPANESE WOOD SWORD STAND

A JAPANESE WOOD SWORD STAND, KATANA-KAKE

EDO/MEIJI PERIOD

The rectangular body with two tall supports for three swords, the lower section with two drawers to the right and a pair of doors to the left opening on three further drawers, the surface decorated in brown and gold lacquer, takamaki-e, with designs of many cranes in flights, pine needles and musical instruments to the front, the sides with prunus, chrysanthemum and peonies amongst mountainous river landscapes, the reverse with a feather coat in a pine tree before Mount Fuji, 47cm x 40cm x 21cm, (6)

The motif of the feather coat may be a reference to the Noh play Hagoromo in which a fisherman finds the mantle of a tennin, a celestial being.