JOKASAI YASUKAZU AFTER A DESIGN BY NEMOTO YUGA

A Shibuichi, Silver and Gold Inlaid Mounted Tanto (Dagger) with Flush-fitting Hilt and Scabbard
Edo period (1615-1868), early/mid-19th century
The tsuka (hilt or handle) and saya (scabbard) with a continuous design of two confronting dragons, one applied in high relief of silver coiled around the length of the body with its head appearing at the top, the second dragon inlaid in flat gold relief similarly entwined among clouds, the mekugi (peg) modelled at one end with a gilt tama (jewel), the fuchi signed Yuga ga (after a painting by Nemoto Yuga) and Jokatsusai Yasukazu with a kao; the blade of ken (straight sword) configuration, forged in ko-itame hada and with a suguha tempered edge, carved on one side with a dragon chasing a tama and on the other side with bonji (Sanskrit characters), the ubu nakago (unaltered tang) with kesho (decorative) file marks and one mekugi-ana (peg hole), with a one-piece gold-foil habaki (collar), inscribed in gold Amakuni. Total length: 37.5cm (14¾in); the blade: 23.2cm (9 1/8in) long.
Footnotes:
Jokosai Yasukazu, alternative name Kobayashi Yoshitoshi (Chinju), was an official retainer artist for the Tottori Domain, Inaba Province (present day Tottori Prefecture) from 1858 and into the mid-Meiji era. He studied under Tsuchiya Takechika. For further information, see Wakayama Takeshi, Kinko jiten (A Dictionary of Metalworkers), Tokyo, Token Shunju Shinbunsha, 1999, pp.1074 and 1198.

Born into a merchant family in Tottori, Yuga (1824-1866) was the Tottori domain's official painter. He moved to Edo at the age of 10 and learnt Kano-style painting under Oki Ichiga. In 1858, he was appointed as the domain's official painter.

Including but not limited to the following:


Blade: a little tired Itame hada, faint polishing scratches.

Metalwork on the scabbard with general typical wear consistent with handling but overall very good condition.

Please note that contrary to the catalogue description, the artist's correct name is Jokatsusai (Yasutsugu) and not Jokasai or Jokosai as erroneously spelt in the title line and the footnote respectively.