A FINE IRON AND SHIBUICHI SUKASHI TSUBA IN THE FORM OF AN AOI MON

拍品描述

A FINE IRON AND SHIBUICHI SUKASHI TSUBA IN THE FORM OF AN AOI MON Unsigned Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of marugata shape with a kozuka hitsu-ana, the nakago hitsu-ana with suaka (copper) sekigane. Skillfully worked in yo-sukashi and neatly detailed with fine incision work to depict three aoi leaves pointing inwards enclosed by an iron ring. HEIGHT 8.1 cm, LENGTH 7.9 cm WEIGHT 170 g The Tokugawa's clan symbol, known in Japanese as Mitsuba Aoi or "triple hollyhock" (although commonly but mistakenly identified as hollyhock, the aoi actually belongs to the birthwort family and translates as "wild ginger"—Asarum), is a readily recognized icon symbolizing in equal parts the Tokugawa clan and the last shogunate.

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