Shibuichi, some silver (?). Japan, 18th to 19th century
Very compactly carved composition in takabori. Lightly raised edge of the kozuka; on one side, a fierce dragon winding through the breaking waves is depicted, while the reverse presents a cloud motif. There, at the end of the dragon tail is a ken blade. Bubbling water is highlighted with silver tenzogan. Signed on the back RYU-SEN MASA-HIRO with Kao.
LENGTH 9,6 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 history 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.