JAPAN - Kaiken, 19th century, the red lacquer saya scabbard, fitted with a koiguchi, a golden-brown sageo wrapped around the scabbard, and a black lacquered wooden kuri-gata, ends in a metal kojiri decorated with a dragon among clouds. The tsuka handle, made of golden-brown sageo weave on a white shagreen background, has two menuki concealed beneath the weave. The finely chased iron kashira and fuchi with taka bori decoration of dragons among clouds, the copper habaki. The straight blade is unsigned. With kogatana, the shibuichi kozuka with inlaid copper and gilt copper hira zogan decoration of deities, the blade engraved "犮山人道龱久作 ". L. 9.3 cm (tsuka) L. 20.7 cm (blade) L. 23.5 cm (saya) L. 20.7 cm (kogatana) L. 32.8 cm (total excluding saya) Condition: The blade shows dirt, scratches and traces of oxidation, the red lacquer saya has chips and losses, and the kozuka and kogatana show a marked patina with oxidation. Provenance: Former collection of Mr Huu Pham (Galerie Potterat)