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"A small, high-relief kozuka (small sword handle) with a feline mother ferrying her cubs. When a tiger gives birth to three cubs, one of them is always a tiger that tries to eat the other two, so when crossing the river, the tiger desperately struggles in the river trying to safely ferry their children to the opposite bank, and the child climbing onto their back, clinging to their parent. This masterpiece features the famous Toranoko-toshi painting, beautifully crafted with high carving of the base crest and inlay color paint. This is a masterpiece kozuka by Masatsune who succeeded to the title of the second Masatsune in 1829. He used the art names Higashi Yueshi, Jugakusai, and Jugusai. His common name was Min-no-suke. Refer to Haynes Index H04752.0." (E. Long) |
