A JAPANESE KATANA (SWORD) WITH EBI (LOBSTER) FURNITURE

A JAPANESE KATANA (SWORD) WITH EBI (LOBSTER) FURNITURE
EDO PERIOD (1615-1868)

74cm max. (3)

From a private collection, London.

With a black lacquer saya (scabbard); the tsuba decorated with an Ise-ebi (lobster) on a nanako ground on each side; the fuchi signed Tsu Jinpo; the kozuka (small knife) decorated with further gold and shakudo lobsters, the blade with the signature for Iwamoto Konkan (1744-1801), engraved with the image of the Kurikara's (dragon King) sword, a flaming jewel, and paper noshi (banner) design; the kojiri and menuki both modelled as another lobster.

See R E Haynes, The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, where Tsu Jinpo (1720-1762), is listed as a member of the Nomura School and a student of Nomura Masamichi (H04166) and of Goto Tsujo (H10775).