A JAPANESE WOOD SWORD STAND

A JAPANESE WOOD SWORD STAND, KATANA-KAKE

EDO PERIOD OR LATER, 19TH CENTURY

The rectangular body with two tall supports for three swords, the lower section with two drawers to the right and a pair of doors to the left opening on three further drawers, the surface decorated in brown and gold lacquer, takamakie, with designs of many cranes in flights, pine needles and musical instruments to the front, the sides with prunus, chrysanthemum and peonies amongst mountainous river landscapes, the reverse with a feather coat in a pine tree before Mount Fuji, 47cm x 40cm x 21cm. (6)

The motif of the feather coat may be a reference to the Noh play Hagoromo in which a fisherman finds the mantle of a tennin, a celestial being.