NURUDEAN MITSUHIDE: A RARE LACQUER TSUBA WITH AUTUMN GRASSES AND MOONBy Nurudean Mitsuhide (Nurudean Koei, 1802-1871), signed Nurudean sakuJapan, mid-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)Of nadekaku-gata shape, the nakago-ana with some carved ‘sekigane’, the ground finely lacquered to simulate shibuichi, the design lacquered in gold and silver takamaki-e depicting autumn grasses and the moon partially obscured by clouds, the verso with three gold-lacquered kamon including the sixteen-petaled imperial seal (kikumon), a mitsudomo-e crest, and the Minamoto clan mon. Signed in gold lacquer NURUDEAN saku [made by Nurudean]. With a wood storage box.SIZE 9.5 x 9.2 cmCondition: Very good condition, some minor wear and rubbing to lacquer.Nurudean Mitsuhide (1802-1871) studied lacqer at the Kajikawa school workshop in Edo and returned to his home town and served as an official lacquer artist to Matsudaira Naritaka, the 9th daimyo lord of the Matsue Domain, in modern Shimane Prefecture. His son Shunko (1847-1906) also became a lacquer artist.Auction comparison:Compare a related lacquer tsuba with a design of geese and the moon, at Zacke, Fine Chinese Works of Art, Japanese and Buddhist Art, 29 September 2018, Vienna, lot 170 (sold for 3,400 EUR).