Sword-guard, Iwamoto Ryokan, Japan, 1750-1775
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1750-1775
IWAMOTO RYOKAN: A FINE IWAMOTO SCHOOL IRON TSUBA OF A SNAKE ON A TRUNK By Iwamoto Ryokan I or II (c. 1750-1775), signed Ryokan Japan, late 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of marugata form, with two hitsu ana, the nakago ana with copper sekigane, the surface rendered to resemble wonderfully weathered bark, with a copper and shakudo takabori snake curling around the sides, and with finely picked out gold hirazogan details.
Signed RYOKAN. HEIGHT 7.3 cm, LENGTH 7.1 cm WEIGHT 144.4 g Provenance: Ex-collection Patrick Liebermann. Two artists of the Iwamoto Ryokan line are listed in Robert E. Haynes, The Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists, pp. 1491–1492 (H 07595.0 and H 07596.0). The first (H 07595.0) is identified as the third master of the Iwamoto family school, while the second (H 07596.0) is recorded as his student and successor.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material (listing wording)
- iron, copper, shakudo, gold
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- HEIGHT 7.3 cm; LENGTH 7.1 cm; WEIGHT 144.4 g
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable; the text keeps only the listing's object facts (condition, price and sale wording removed). Attribution and measurements describe the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Candidate id
- inv-200793136
- Auction house
- Galerie Zacke
- Listing object ID
- 200793136
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and dating against a specialist reference; this entry documents one recorded example.