Sword-guard, shibuichi, Japan, 18th century

GENSHOSAI MASAHARU: A FINE SHIBUICHI ‘FIVE HORSES’ TSUBA School of Genshosai Masaharu (active c. 1720s), signed Genshosai Masaharu Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of nagamarugata form, with gold-plugged kozuka and kogai hitsu ana, the nakago ana with copper sekigane, the shibuichi migakiji (polished) ground inlaid in superb iro-e takazogan with five frolicking horses beside a stream carved in shishiaibori and katakiribori.

Signed to one side GENSHOSAI MASAHARU. From the private collection of Alan and Simone Hartman, New York, acquired from the above. Notably, they assembled an impressive collection of Japanese art, focusing on fine netsuke, inro, and lacquer. Genshosai Masaharu (active c. 1720s) is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on p. 851-852 (H 03917.0). He was the first student of Shuji Yoshimori in Mito and a student of Ishiguro Masatsune.