By Ichijosai Hirotoshi, signed Hanabusa Itcho zu, Ichijosai, with seal HirotoshiJapan, early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The nagamarugata tsuba showing an unusual design, based on a drawing by Hanabusa Itcho (1652-1724). The front worked in fine iro-e takazogan depicting Jurojin leisurely playing the samisen and riding on an ox which is led by a humanoid rat. The subject is likely a parodic allusion to the Zen Buddhist parable of the ten ox herding pictures.With an inscription to the back 英一蝶図、一乗斎 with gold seal 弘壽 “Hanabusa Itcho zu, Ichijosai, with seal Hirotoshi“ [Made by Ichijosai with seal Hirotoshi, based on a drawing by Hanabusa Itcho].SIZE 6.1 x 5.6 cmWEIGHT 110 gCondition: Very good condition with typical associated surface wear.Provenance: French private collection.The artist is listed in the Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on page 293 (H 01415.0).Hanabusa Itcho (1652-1724), founder of the Hanabusa school, was a Japanese painter, calligrapher, and haiku poet.