Two stag-horn Kiseruzutsu (pipe cases) with kiseru (pipes)


Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th centuryThe first carved as a stalk of reishi fungus, the reverse carved with grasses in low relief, the pipe carved with lotus leaves in kebori the spotted bamboo stalk with natural variations in color; the second carved as a monkey in a hat, the bottom section of the case formed as the monkey's paw, the pipe of russet iron and bamboo decorated with matsukawa-bishi (pine-bark crests) in gold and silver hirazogan, the mouthpiece silver (2) 9in (22.9cm) long, the largest