13th Jun, 2025 10:00
Fine Japanese Art
63
MASATOMO: A SUPERB AND LARGE IRON TSUBA OF A SNAKE AND MONKEYS
€7,500
€15,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
By Masatomo, signed Masatomo
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Published: Patrick Liebermann, Tsuba. Itinéraires d'une collection, 2016, p. 33, no. 18.
Published & Exhibited: Samouraïs. Guerriers et esthètes, Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg, 11 March-13 July 2022, p. 153, no. 157.
Of nadekakugata form, decorated with gold and iro-e takazogan to depict a frightened monkey protecting its young from a snake, their expressions finely rendered, the tail of the snake wrapping around the monkey’s leg, and its mouth ajar ready to attack. The body of the snake continuing to the reverse and signed MASATOMO.
HEIGHT 9.1 cm, LENGTH 8.5 cm
WEIGHT 327.1 g
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and light scratches.
Provenance: Ex-collection Ernest Le Véel. Beaussant-Lefèvre, 19 October 2011, Paris, lot 156. Ex-collection Patrick Liebermann, acquired from the above. Ernest Le Véel (1874-1951) and his wife entered the art trade at a very young age in the closing years of the 19th century, and were soon drawn to Japanese prints. They became acquainted with Japanese art lovers such as Louis Gonse, Gillot, Haviland, d'Ennery, among others, and gradually became their friends, suppliers and advisors. Over a period of almost forty years, they assembled a unique collection, which presents the widest possible range of Japanese prints and other Japanese works of art. Patrick Liebermann (1948–2023) was a passionate collector of tsuba (Japanese sword guards). His journey began in 1970 when he unknowingly purchased his first tsuba, unaware it was a sword fitting—an encounter that sparked a lifelong dedication. Over the course of more than fifty years, Liebermann assembled an impressive collection of over 200 pieces, always prioritizing quality over quantity. Rather than adhering strictly to specific schools, periods, or types such as sukashi or kinko, he was guided by the thematic content of each piece. His acquisitions were often made directly in Japan, with a discerning eye for originality and artistic merit. A selection of his collection was exhibited at the Bibliothèque Universitaire in Strasbourg in 2022, offering a glimpse into his refined and deeply personal approach to collecting.
Museum comparison:
Compare a related tsuba with monkey and snake, dated to the late 19th-early 20th century, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 51.246.
By Masatomo, signed Masatomo
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Published: Patrick Liebermann, Tsuba. Itinéraires d'une collection, 2016, p. 33, no. 18.
Published & Exhibited: Samouraïs. Guerriers et esthètes, Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg, 11 March-13 July 2022, p. 153, no. 157.
Of nadekakugata form, decorated with gold and iro-e takazogan to depict a frightened monkey protecting its young from a snake, their expressions finely rendered, the tail of the snake wrapping around the monkey’s leg, and its mouth ajar ready to attack. The body of the snake continuing to the reverse and signed MASATOMO.
HEIGHT 9.1 cm, LENGTH 8.5 cm
WEIGHT 327.1 g
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear and light scratches.
Provenance: Ex-collection Ernest Le Véel. Beaussant-Lefèvre, 19 October 2011, Paris, lot 156. Ex-collection Patrick Liebermann, acquired from the above. Ernest Le Véel (1874-1951) and his wife entered the art trade at a very young age in the closing years of the 19th century, and were soon drawn to Japanese prints. They became acquainted with Japanese art lovers such as Louis Gonse, Gillot, Haviland, d'Ennery, among others, and gradually became their friends, suppliers and advisors. Over a period of almost forty years, they assembled a unique collection, which presents the widest possible range of Japanese prints and other Japanese works of art. Patrick Liebermann (1948–2023) was a passionate collector of tsuba (Japanese sword guards). His journey began in 1970 when he unknowingly purchased his first tsuba, unaware it was a sword fitting—an encounter that sparked a lifelong dedication. Over the course of more than fifty years, Liebermann assembled an impressive collection of over 200 pieces, always prioritizing quality over quantity. Rather than adhering strictly to specific schools, periods, or types such as sukashi or kinko, he was guided by the thematic content of each piece. His acquisitions were often made directly in Japan, with a discerning eye for originality and artistic merit. A selection of his collection was exhibited at the Bibliothèque Universitaire in Strasbourg in 2022, offering a glimpse into his refined and deeply personal approach to collecting.
Museum comparison:
Compare a related tsuba with monkey and snake, dated to the late 19th-early 20th century, in the Walters Art Museum, accession number 51.246.
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
Zacke Live Online Bidding
Our online bidding platform makes it easier than ever to bid in our auctions! When you bid through our website, you can take advantage of our premium buyer's terms without incurring any additional online bidding surcharges.
To bid live online, you'll need to create an online account. Once your account is created and your identity is verified, you can register to bid in an auction up to 12 hours before the auction begins.
Intended Spend and Bid Limits
When you register to bid in an online auction, you will need to share your intended maximum spending budget for the auction. We will then review your intended spend and set a bid limit for you. Once you have pre-registered for a live online auction, you can see your intended spend and bid limit by going to 'Account Settings' and clicking on 'Live Bidding Registrations'.
Your bid limit will be the maximum amount you can bid during the auction. Your bid limit is for the hammer price and is not affected by the buyer’s premium and VAT. For example, if you have a bid limit of €1,000 and place two winning bids for €300 and €200, then you will only be able to bid €500 for the rest of the auction. If you try to place a bid that is higher than €500, you will not be able to do so.
Online Absentee and Telephone Bids
You can now leave absentee and telephone bids on our website!
Absentee Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave your absentee bid directly on the lot page. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Telephone Bidding
Once you've created an account and your identity is verified, you can leave telephone bids online. We will contact you when your bids have been confirmed.
Classic Absentee and Telephone Bidding Form
You can still submit absentee and telephone bids by email or fax if you prefer. Simply fill out the Absentee Bidding/Telephone bidding form and return it to us by email at office@zacke.at or by fax at +43 (1) 532 04 52 20. You can download the PDF from our Upcoming Auctions page.
How-To Guides
How to Create Your Personal Zacke Account
How to Register to Bid on Zacke Live
How to Leave Absentee Bids Online
How to Leave Telephone Bids Online
中文版本的操作指南
创建新账号
注册Zacke Live在线直播竞拍（免平台费）
缺席投标和电话投标
Third-Party Bidding
We partner with best-in-class third-party partners to make it easy for you to bid online in the channel of your choice. Please note that if you bid with one of our third-party online partners, then there will be a live bidding surcharge on top of your final purchase price. You can find all of our fees here. Here's a full list of our third-party partners:
- 51 Bid Live
- EpaiLive
- ArtFoxLive
- Invaluable
- LiveAuctioneers
- the-saleroom
- lot-tissimo
- Drouot
Please note that we place different auctions on different platforms. For example, in general, we only place Chinese art auctions on 51 Bid Live.
Bidding in Person
You must register to bid in person and will be assigned a paddle at the auction. Please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52 for the latest local health and safety guidelines.
Auction: Fine Japanese Art, 13th Jun, 2025
Galerie Zacke is delighted to present Fine Japanese Art, a live auction featuring 600 lots spanning every era of Japan’s rich history.
The first 368 lots are elegantly showcased in our print catalog, curated to highlight Arts of the Samurai, Metalwork, Buddhist Art, Lacquerware, Porcelain, and Paintings & Woodblock Prints. Lots 369 to 600 are in our online catalog, dedicated to okimono, sagemono, and miniature works of art.
All 600 lots will be offered in a single continuous live auction beginning at 10 AM CET on 13 June.
We open with a dynamic selection of bronzes, metalwork, and samurai art. Notable highlights include a rare inlaid iron koro by Myochin Munenori (Lot 48), an impressive Myochin school suit of armor (Lot 108), and a superb tanto by Kunishige (Lot 120).
Our Buddhist Art section features incredible pieces such as a gilt-bronze figure of Jizo Bosatsu (Lot 150) and a large gilt-lacquered wood depiction of Kanzan and Jittoku (Lot 157).
We warmly invite you to explore the full catalog and join us live on 13 June for this exciting event. Learn more.
Classic Bidding Form Telephone Bidding Form
Viewing
EXHIBITION IN OUR NEW SHOWROOM: ZELINKAGASSE 6, 1010 VIENNA
2-6 June, 10-12 June
Monday - Friday
10 am - 6 pm
as well as by appointment
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
