A JAPANESE BRONZE 'HOTEI' SWORD GUARD, TSUBA BY HAMANO SHOZUI (1696 – 1769)

A JAPANESE BRONZE 'HOTEI' SWORD GUARD, TSUBA BY HAMANO SHOZUI (1696 – 1769)

Edo period, 18th Century

Of rounded rectangular shape, inlaid with silver and gold to depict Hotei gazing up at the full moon, travelling downstream in a boat, accompanied by a young boy curled up by his feet, another youngster is handling the quant pole, signed Shozui

7.2cm, 180g

Hamano Shozui, also known as Masayuki Hamano, was a swordsmith, a metal smith and the founder of the Hamano school. His common name was Tarobei and operated under names such as Otoryuken, Ajisumi, and Hankeiko.