Arts of the samurai
IRON TSUBA WITH AOI LEAVES
IRON TSUBA WITH AOI LEAVES
Japan, mid-Edo period, 18th/19th century
Unsigned
A mokko-shaped iron tsuba with engraved wormholes and hollyhock (aoi) leaves on waves to the centre of the tsuba. Some leaves inlaid in gold (nunome-zogan). This tsuba was probably made by the Owari-school.
The Aoi (Asarum caulescens or A. Sieboldii) is the heraldic symbol (kamon) of the Tokugawa family and the leaves have been portrayed in their usual stylised form. It is however very unusual to depict them floating on water. It is therefore more likely that the décor of this tsuba is a reference to the 9th chapter of the Genji Monogatari, named Aoi, rather than to the Tokugawa family.
Heigth: 7.7 cm
Provenance:
Delen Family Collection, Lisse
Aalderink Oriental Art and Ethnografica, Amsterdam
Price: € 1.350,-
Objectnumber: 105
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