HAMANO STYLE SHIBUICHI TSUBA

Details

HAMANO STYLE SHIBUICHI TSUBA
LATE EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

Tatemarugata with a thin, raised lip, the omote is decorated in takazogan shibuichi, sentoku, copper and gold with a figure of Kidomaru (Hakamedare Yasusuke) emerging from the skin of a buffalo while on the ura, Raiko (Minamoto no Yorimitsu) and attendants passing along the banks of a stream near Kidomaru's hiding place, unsigned, height 7.1cm.

Lot Essay

Kidomaru was supposedly the brother of Fujiwara no Tasumasa, but became a brigand and used animal skins as disguises. Raiko (944-1021) was born Minamoto no Yorimitsu and became famous for his exploits as one of the Shi-Tenno (Four Retainers.) Insulted in prison by Raiko, Kidomaru escaped to seek his revenge. Hiding under a buffalo skin, he waited for Raiko on his pilgrimage to Kuramayama and killed him.