Bronze, gold. Japan, 19th cent.
Wakizashi tsuba, of oval form with ryohitsu. Bearing a figural representation in takazogan on a rich nanakoji ground. The depiction offers foxes clad in human attires and coolies. The background of the view side presents a torii of an Inari shrine in gilt. Very amusing depiction as some foxes are shown bellowing. With golden rim, some wear. Inari counted as the most popular deity in Japan. He is the fox – rice – god and was particularly worshipped for success and wealth by the warriors and merchands during the Edo age.
HEIGHT 6,6 CM
From the collection of Dr. Karl Florenz (1865-1939)
Dr. Karl Florenz was a renowned scholar, university professor and considered a pioneer of German Japanese studies. He resided in Japan from 1888 until the beginning of the First World War and then continued his lectures at the Hamburg Colonial Institute, never returning to Japan again. Famed 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 dating to the 18th cent. and quite evidently made an effort to explore a wide range of motifs.