Lot of 3 Japanese Tsubas with Shoki and Oni Folkloric Motifs

1.) 2.6" x 2.75". Maru Gata iron tsuba depicting a wrathful Shoki banishing an Oni from the clouds above the Nakago-Ana. Shoki is engraved with a wispy beard, and mounts bulging golden eyes, and further gold embellishments to his kimono. He holds aloft a silver sword. Clouds at the top of the tsuba enclose a Shakudo Oni fleeing before Shoki, his back towards the viewer. Reverse side depicts a peaceful scene with a lightly engraved tree with gold seeds to flowering buds.

2.) 2.75" x 2.9". Iron Maru Gata pattern tsuba depicting Shoki laying his blackened Shakudo finish hand on the back of a cowering red Shakudo Oni. The Oni's horns, and the details on Shoki's clothing are plated in gold. Lightly engraved background shows a second Oni emerging from the upper ground behind an iron boulder. Reverse side is relief engraved with a discarded silver feather quill pen with the quill and writing table decorated with gold.

3.) 2.6" x 2.9". Maru Gata iron tsuba carved on the obverse sign with a bearded Shoki below the Kozuka Hitsu-Ana glaring at a Shakudo Oni clinging to the gold clapper of a bell on the opposite side of the tsuba, a wise course of action given what has happened in the previous pair of descriptions. Ground and reverse side are lightly engraved with floral motifs featuring gold details.

Items come with a receipt from Armada Antiques of Gray's Antique Market, London, where one of these was sold in 1998.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.