AN EDO KINKO IRON TSUBA

Details
AN EDO KINKO IRON TSUBA
LATE EDO PERIOD (THIRD QUARTER 19TH CENTURY), SIGNED ICHIJOSAI HIROTOSHI AND KAO


The circular, soft brown color plate is set with a thin flange on the rim (sukikaeshi-mimi) and softly molded on the reverse with bunched clouds; the obverse is molded with an iron figure of an oni wearing a gold diadem and holding a covered gold offering bowl before an applied copper figure of Daruma eating soba from a gold bowl; on the area above the oni's head is inscribed Shingai mubeppu ([That] which is in your mind is the true Way [path/faith]); signed in sosho, Ichijosai Hirotoshi and kao; set with a gold seal, Fuko ([I am] not old.); height 8.4 cm.; silk-lined fitted wood box.