Iron, shakudo, some gilding. Japan, 18th to 19th century
Inlaid shakudo tsuba of a flat mokkogata form with lobed edges, evenly rimmed and bearing one hitsu open to the side; symmetrically carved with foliage and tendrils inlaid in shakudo (possibly) and gilt (or gilt nunome) to some sections.Strong rust-patina due to age.
HEIGHT 5,15 CM
From the collection of Dr. Karl Florenz (1865-1939)
Dr. Karl Florenz was a renowned scholar, university professor and regarded as a pioneer of German Japanese studies. He resided in Japan from 1888 until the beginning of the First World War, then continued his lectures at the Hamburg Colonial Institute, never to return to Japan again. Famous for having translated several important Japanese books including the Nihongi, Japan’s oldest official historical text, he was awarded the Japanese doctor title in literature. His extensive collection was largely destroyed by air strikes in the Second World War (which he himself did not live to witness), however, most tsuba etc. survived in relatively good condition. Dr. Florenz primarily collected tsubas, most of which are from the 18th cent. and quite evidently made an effort to explore a wide range of motifs.