A gold-lacquer and Shibayama-inlaid tanto koshira-e (ornamental mounting for a short sword)

Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century

Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th/early 20th century
The scabbard and hilt of kinji lacquer with details of togidashi maki-e, elaborately inlaid in typical Shibayama style encrustations with an ornate basket of ikebana suspended from the branch of a flowering cherry tree on one side and a pair of mandarin ducks inlaid in high relief cloisonné-enamel swimming beneath wisteria and cherry branches on the reverse, the tsuka (hilt or handle) embellished with a different vase of ikebana, the kashira (pommel at the tip of the tsuka), fuchi-gashira (hilt pommel and collar) and kojiri (decorative ornament at the base of the scabbard) of silver, applied with formal foliate designs in coloured enamels; the blade of hirazukuri form and plain; unsigned. Total length: 36.3cm (14 1/8in).