SIGNED MIBOKU, MEIJI PERIOD (LATE 19TH CENTURY)

Details

An Outstanding Two-Case Metal Sheath Inro [Medicine Case]
Signed Miboku, Meiji Period (Late 19th Century)
Rounded rectangular with applied himotoshi; the inner of plain polished silver and shibuichi meeting on one side on a diagonal; the sleeve shibuichi carved in relief and embellished with gilding; signed on the reverse with engraved characters Miboku, with a kao; enamel ojime; wood kagami netsuke decorated in gold and silver lacquer with terrapin in a stream, set with a shibuichi plate carved in relief and engraved with two terrapins on cords and a pagoda in the background, the wooden part of the netsuke cracked

The swordsmith Munechika forging a sword assisted by the fox-spirit; on the reverse New Year pine saplings viewed from a temple veranda
3 5/16 x 2 13/16in. (8.5 x 7.2cm.)

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

Lot Essay

For a drawing by Utagawa Kuniyoshi of the same subject, see B.W. Robinson, The Arts of the Japanese Sword (London, 1961), plate 5. The custom of hanashi-kame, buying terrapins or turtles for the sole purpose of releasing them in order to acquire Buddhist merit, is discussed in V.-F. Weber, Koji Hoten, Dictionnaire à l'Usage des Amateurs et Collectionneurs d'Objets d'Art Japonais et Chinois (Paris, 1923), vol. 2, pp. 409-410 and fig. 1007.

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