A kurogaki (black persimmon) wood tonkotsu (tobacco box) Probably by Tadasuke, 19th century The oval rectangular body carved in high relief with the three heroes of the Sangokushi ('Romance of the Three Kingdoms'), Kan'u (in Chinese, Guan Yu) wielding a polearm beneath a pine tree, Chohi (Zhang Fei) standing in a defiant attitude with a drawn sword and Gentoku (in Chinese Xuan De) seated, holding his sword, the cord holes on the cover ringed with gilt-metal; signed inside the cover in an oval reserve Tadasuke, with a glass ojime. 9.5cm x 8.5cm (3¾in x 3 3/8in). Footnotes: リザーブ設定無し 関羽・張飛・玄徳図木彫とんこつ　銘「忠助」　19世紀 Provenance: Dr Walter Heihs collection, purchased at Sotheby's, London, 1998. Wrangham collection, no.2139. The Edward Wrangham Collection of Japanese Art: Part V, lot 117. www.bonhams.com/auctions/20555/lot/117/ Lot to be sold without reserve. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com