13th Jun, 2025 10:00
Fine Japanese Art
60
AN IRON SUKASHI TSUBA WITH MONKEY, DATED 1863
Sold for €2,080
including Buyer's Premium
Japan, dated 1863
Published: Patrick Liebermann, Tsuba. Itinéraires d'une collection, 2016, p. 29, no. 16.
Published & Exhibited: Samouraïs. Guerriers et esthètes, Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg, 11 March-13 July 2022, p. 152, no. 153.
Of nagamarugata form, finely worked in gold and iro-e takazogan and hirazogan, as well as kage-sukashi to depict a monkey perched on a barren branch above a stream. The reverse with flowering reeds issuing from water. The front dated Bunkyo kigai fuyubi [Winter of the year of the boar (corresponding to 1863)] and the signature partly eroded.
HEIGHT 8.3 cm, LENGTH 7.7 cm
WEIGHT 162.3 g
Condition: Very good condition with minimal wear, light rusting, and some green verdigris.
Provenance: Ex-collection Patrick Liebermann, acquired from the above. 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.
Japan, dated 1863
Published: Patrick Liebermann, Tsuba. Itinéraires d'une collection, 2016, p. 29, no. 16.
Published & Exhibited: Samouraïs. Guerriers et esthètes, Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire, Strasbourg, 11 March-13 July 2022, p. 152, no. 153.
Of nagamarugata form, finely worked in gold and iro-e takazogan and hirazogan, as well as kage-sukashi to depict a monkey perched on a barren branch above a stream. The reverse with flowering reeds issuing from water. The front dated Bunkyo kigai fuyubi [Winter of the year of the boar (corresponding to 1863)] and the signature partly eroded.
HEIGHT 8.3 cm, LENGTH 7.7 cm
WEIGHT 162.3 g
Condition: Very good condition with minimal wear, light rusting, and some green verdigris.
Provenance: Ex-collection Patrick Liebermann, acquired from the above. 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.
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