KATSUHIRA: A SHIBUICHI 'PRUNUS BRANCH' OBIDOME

KATSUHIRA: A FINE SHIBUICHI OBIDOME (SASH CLIP) DEPICTING A PRUNUS BRANCH
By Suzuki Katsuhira (b. 1859), signed Katsuhira
Japan, Tokyo, Meiji period (1868-1912)

Depicting a gnarled prunus branch with blossoms and buds picked out in gold and silver takazogan, signed to the side KATSUHIRA.

LENGTH 4.7 g
WEIGHT 11 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor surface wear.
Provenance: French private collection.

Suzuki Katsuhira was born in Mito, Hitachi Province, in 1859 and moved to Tokyo in 1886. He is listed in Haynes, Robert E. (2001) The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, p. 576-577, (H 02760.0) as well as Takeshi, Wakayama (1984) Toso Kinko Jiten, p. 302.

The obidome (sash clips) are miniature mixed metal clips which were mounted to the obi (sash) with the help of a cord. Like kagamibuta netsuke and kanamono they were fashion accessories, many of them made by famous and celebrated metalwork artists who previously made sword fittings, which fell out of demand due to the Sword Abolishment Edict in 1876. The craftsmanship of these certainly rivaled those of the finest Western jewelers.