Parier- oder Stichblatt, aufgrund der enormen Einfallsfreudigkeit japanischer TSUBA-Hersteller ein eigenes Kunst- und Sammelgebiet
CHRYSANTHEMUM TSUBA
Iron and gilding. Japan, 18th to 19th century
Iron tsuba in oval form, evenly rimmed, featuring ryohitsu pierced as bamboo grid with kiku (chrysanthemum). This flower is a Japanese imperial emblem and was depicted on mon (armour); veining of leaves highlighted in gilded nunome.
HEIGHT 7,55 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.
TSUBA
Parry or sword guard plates, because of the tremendous inventiveness of Japanese manufacturers, comprise a separate art collection area.