Two katana-kake [sword racks] | Meiji - Showa period, late 19th - 20th century

Two katana-kake [sword racks]

Meiji - Showa period, late 19^th - 20^th century 

two black lacquer sword racks, the first with a central panel decorated in gold, silver and black hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, mura-nashiji and inlaid in mother-of-pearl on a black lacquer ground, with two horses in moonlight beside autumnal flowers and grasses, the black lacquer edged in gold hiramaki-e, the reverse with maple and grasses beside a stream, Meiji period (late 19^th century); the second decorated in gold hiramaki-e with kikko hanabishi, and a central large panel in gold and silver hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, keuchi, and inlays of mother-of-pearlon a black lacquer ground, depicting the cloak of invisibility, sacred peal, Daikoku’s lucky mallet, makimono, the reverse similarly decorated, Showa period (20^th century)

46 cm., 18 in. wide (the first)

66.5 cm., 26¼ in. wide (the second)