• Title page (with tall “s”): THE | ACCOMPLISHMENT | OF THE | PROPHECIES, | OR THE | Approaching Deliverance of | the CHURCH. | A work, wherein it is proved, that the Papism | is the Antichristian Empire; that that Empire is not far | from its ruin ; that the present persecution may end in | three years and a half. After which, the destruction | of Antichrist shall begin, which shall be finished in the | beginning of the next Age ; and lastly, the Kingdom | of Jesus Christ shall come on the Earth. | — | The second Edition Corrected and Enlarged by almost | a third part, and the explication of all the Visions of the Re- | velation, and of many Chapters concerning mystical Theology. | — | 2 vols. In 1, | — | Written in French by Mr. PETER JURIEU , the present | Minister of the French Church at Rotterdam. And from | this second Edition faithfully Englished. | — | LONDON , Printed in the Year 1687. || Pagination: ffl, [48] 1-271 [272 blank] + 3-99, 200-396, bfl. Note: part 2 starts with page 3, page 99 recto is paginated 200 on verso, instead of 100; total number of pages in part 2, thus, is 294. Collation is uninterrupted. Collation: *-**8 A-S8 + Aa7 Bb-Ss8 Tt4. Note: no leaf Aa1, leaf Tt4 unsigned; 307 leaves total. Binding: Full brown calf, boards ruled blind with double-fillet, flat spine stamped blind with a diaper, double-fillet ruled compartments, black label with gilt lettering. Printed on laid paper, with marginal notes. Yellow sticker to front pastedown G. Batenham, Bookseller, Northgate, Chester. Author: Pierre Jurieu (French, 1637 – 1713). Translator unknown. Publisher unknown.

    English translation of the book:Pierre Jurieu. L'accomplissement des Propheties ou la delivrance prochaine de l'Eglise. —Rotterdam: Acher, 1686.

  • A portrait of Marcello Malpighi from his book Opera posthuma: figuris aeneis illustrata, quibus praefixa est ejusdem vita a seipso scripta, Londini:Churchill, 1697. Inscription: Marcellus Malpighius | Medicus Bononiensis mortuus 29 Novemb. Anno Dom. 1694. Anno aetatis 67. I. Kip. sculp.

    Marcello Malpighi (10 March 1628 – 29 November 1694) was an Italian biologist and physician, who is referred to as the "Father of microscopical anatomy, histology, physiology and embryology" [Wikipedia].

    From European Journal of Anatomy 22(5):433-439 · September 2018, an article by Sanjib Ghosh and Ashutosh Kumar 'Marcello Malpighi (1628-1694): Pioneer of microscopic anatomy and exponent of the scientific revolution of the 17th Century': Italian anatomist and an eminent scientist who significantly contributed to the advancement of the anatomical sciences in the 17th century. Malpighi was one of the first to use the compound microscope (an instrument designed by Galileo in 1609) and made the most important discovery of his life in 1661 when he identified capillaries as connecting vessels between small arteries and veins in the lungs. Malpighi thus provided the missing link in William Harvey's theory of blood circulation. He made significant contributions in the field of embryology based on his observations on chick embryo, and his efforts provided deep insights into the development of the heart and the nervous system. His communications based on microscopic studies scripted valuable details on the structural organization of organs like the liver, kidney and spleen. He identified the hepatic lobule as the fundamental unit of the liver and noted that bile was being secreted by these lobules and not from the gall bladder (the popular belief then). In the kidney, he discovered the glomerulus (Malpighian Corpuscle) and was the first to observe the convoluted tubules in the renal cortex. He was the first to describe the presence of lymphatic bodies (Malpighi's Corpuscle) in the spleen. Although he was exceedingly successful in his scientific activities, his life was fraught with unfortunate events and savage criticism from detractors arising out of professional jealousy and personal feuds. Nevertheless, his exploits were instrumental in understanding the human microscopic anatomy (histology) and his accomplishments have etched his name in the pages of medical science forever.

    The portrait was engraved by Johannes "Jan" Kip (1652/53, Amsterdam – 1722, Westminster) - a Dutch draftsman, engraver and print dealer.

  • Iron tsuba with design of bamboo and sparrow (take-ni-suzume) in openwork (sukashi). Rounded rim. Copper sekigane. Akasaka school. Unsigned. Attributed to second generation Tadamasa Shōzaemon (died in in the fifth year of Enppo, 1677). Early Edo period: 17th century (Kan-ei Kanbun era). Height: 79.0 mm. Width: 77.5 mm. Rim thickness: 5.5 mm. Center thickness: 6.6 mm. Provenance: Sasano Masayuki Collection, № 222: "It is believed that sparrows nest in a bamboo grove". According to Merrily Baird [Merrily Baird. Symbols of Japan. Thematic motifs in art and design. Rizzoli international publications, Inc., 2001], "a bamboo grove is said to be emblematic of security as the bamboo is resilient even in the face of high winds and heavy rains. [...]  The association of the sparrow (suzume) with bamboo is an old one found in Japanese poetry, paining, and design. The bird is said to be obsessed with its honor, especially the repaying of debts".  
  • Title (black and red): ANTIQUITATES CHRISTIANÆ: |—| OR, THE | HISTORY | OF THE | LIFE AND DEATH | OF THE | HOLY JESUS: | AS ALSO THE Lives, Acts and Martyrdoms | OF HIS | APOSTLES. |—| IN TWO PARTS. |—| The Firƒt Part, containing The Life of CHRIST, written by | Jer. Taylor, Late Lord Bishop of Down and Connor. | The Second, Containing The Lives of the APOSTLES, with an | Enumeration, and ƒome Brief Remarks upon their firƒt Successors in | the Five Great APOSTOLICAL CHURCHES, | By WILLIAM CAVE, D. D. Chaplain in | Ordinary to His MAJESTY. | By whom alƒo is added an APPARATUS, or Diƒcourƒe Introductory to the whole Work, | concerning the Three Great Diƒpenƒations of the Church, Patriarchal, Moƒaical, and Evangelical. |—| THE EIGHTH EDITION. |—| Orig. contr. Celƒ. lib. 1. in Proœm. p. 1, 2. | [text in Greek] |—| LONDON, | Printed by R. N. for Luke Meredith, at the Sign of the Star in | St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCXCIV. Collation of this book is unusual, it is called "Folio in 6s" (three sheets are folded in half to create a gathering of 6 leaves). Two unsigned leaves: (1) Engraved frontispiece "The Annunciation" by Willian Faithorne "the Elder" (British, 1616 – 1691), recto blank; (2) engraved title by the same engraver, verso blank; (*) gathering of 4: black and red title page, verso blank; epistle; to reader; imprim. (Ato Sƒ6) Engraved portrait of Jeremy Taylor by Pierre Lombart (French, 1612 – 1682); faux title page: "The Great Exemplar of Sanctity and Holy Life... MDCXCIII"; dedication; contents, then to the end of the first book. (A-Z4 Aa-Bb4 Cc2) The second book has collation in quarto: Faux title page: "Antiquitates Christianæ: or the Lives, Acts and Martyrdoms... MDCXCIV", etc. to the end. Full formula: π*4 a-c6 d8 A-Z6 Aa-Sƒ6 A-Z4 Aa-Bb4 Cc2 Pagination: [12]  I-LI [LII] [12] I-XXVIII, i-vi, (1st book): [2] I-145 [146-150] 151-432 [12]; (2nd book): [8]  i-xiv, 1-188. 22 plates : frontis., t.p., portrait, one folding before p. 65, two after pp. [146], [150], 282, 304, 364, 386, 414, [422], and numerous head-pieces. Size: 36 x 23.5 x 5.7 cm Binding: full calf with the later spine, raised bands; front board with remnants of gilt ruling and blind stamped border, back bord probably original with a blind-stamped centre panel with fleurons.      
  • Plate with crane, bird, plants, and four treasures. Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration and illegible factory mark to the bottom. Ming Dynasty [大明] (1368 – 1644); Wanli Era (1572 – 1620); Late 16th – Early 17th century. Diameter: 19.5 cm; Height: 3 cm
  • Footed plate with scalloped rim, centre decorated with running yak or another even-toed animal among flowers, jewel diaper pattern to the inner lip; foliage motif to the outside is bordered with foliage above and lotus leaves below. Porcelain with underglaze blue decoration. Ming Dynasty [大明] (1368 – 1644); Wanli Era (1572 – 1620); Late 16th – Early 17th century. Diameter: 25.5 cm; Height: 4.2 cm
  • Underglaze cobalt blue and white Zhangzhou (Swatow) porcelain plate decorated vigorously and spontaneously with a bird in the landscape, and flowers in oval cartouches among waves or fish scale diaper. Sand particles on the base. Ming Dynasty [大明] (1368 – 1644); Wanli Era (1572 – 1620); Late 16th – Early 17th century. Diameter: 28.2 cm; Height: 4.0 cm
  • Pliny's Historia Naturalis. Engraved Title: C. PLINIUS S. Vande Menfchen, Beeften, Vogelen en Viffchen. [Pliny the Elder. Of Men, Beasts, Birds, and Fish]. Title: C. PLINII | SECUNDI | Des wijd-vermaerden Na- | tuur-kondigers vijf boecken handelende van de nature. | Handelende van de Nature | I. Vande Manfchen. | II. Vande viervoetige en kruypende Dieren. | III. Vande Vogelen. | IV. Vande kleyne Beeftjes of Ongedierten. | V. Vande Viffchen, Oefters, Kreeften, &c. | Hier zijn by ghevoeght / de Schriften | van verscheyden andere oude autheuren / de | natuer der dieren aengaende; | En nu in defen leften Druck wel het vierde part | vermeerdert , uyt verscheyden nieuwe Schrijvers | en eyghen ondervindinge : en met veel | kopere Plaeten verciert. {Device} | t' AMSTELREDAM , | By Iooft Hartgers, Boeck-verkooper op den Dam | bezijden het Stadthuys, 1650. Pagination: [1, 2] - engraved t.p. / blank, [3, 4] - text t.p. / Aen den nauw-keuringem Lefer..., 5-802, 52 engraved plates; colophon on p. 802 bottom: "Gedruckt by Chiftoffel Cunradus, ..." Collation: A-Z1-12, Aa-Kk1-12 Size: 12mo, 14 x 9 cm Binding: Vellum The first Dutch version, consisting of extracts from books 7-11 from Pliny's "Natural History" was published in Arnheim by Jans Janzen in quarto in 1610. Our copy is one of the Amsterdam editions and the only one in duodecimo. According to WorldCat, there is not a single copy of this edition in the US libraries. Printed by Christoffel Cunradus ( Freiberg , c. 1615 - Amsterdam , 1684) for publisher Joost Hartgers (Dutch, fl. 1650). See Gudger, E. W. "Pliny's Historia Naturalis. The Most Popular Natural History Ever Published." Isis 6, no. 3 (1924): 269-81. Accessed September 23, 2020. http://www.jstor.org/stable/224311.
  • [Jean de LA FONTAINE]. Contes et nouvelles en vers. De Monsieur de La Fontaine. Nouvelle édition enrichie de tailles-douces. À Amsterdam | Chez Henry Desbordes, MDCLXXXV [1685]. — 2 vol. in 1. Pagination: [1] - frontispiece with pasted illustr., [*1] - title p. with blank verso, *2-*5 (only recto numbered) - advertisement, [1] - preface vol. 1, [2] table, 1-236; [6] - preface vol. 2, 1-216, illustr. (in text). Etched frontispiece plate and 58 half-page etchings at the head of each chapter as well as endpiece vignettes, all by R. de Hooge (Romeyn de Hooghe, 1645 – 1708, a Dutch painter, sculptor, engraver and caricaturist. First illustrated edition. "Publication of the scandalous fables was forbidden in France from 1674. According to Van Eeghen, this edition was published without the knowledge of La Fontaine. ...This is the edition with ‘Le Juge de Nêle’ (instead of Mesle) in the contents of the first volume, as well as page 211 for 'Dissertation sur la Joconde'; 16 lines of text on page 211; and 19 lines of text on the first page of the preface of volume 2" [1]. Pott 8vo (15.4 x 10 cm), hardcover; owner's later tan polished half-calf, marbled boards, marbled pastedowns and flyleaves, 5 raised bands, dark brown labels with gilt lettering and gilt roll patterns on spine, tail of the spine slightly damaged. Corners bumped, spotted stains on leather. Henri Desbordes (d. ca. 1722) was a Huguenot printer who was exiled from his business in France and set up as a publisher in Amsterdam in the 17th century.
  • Engraved title page:
    • In an oval cartouche at the centre, flanked by female personifications of Painting and Poetry, surmounted by an eagle, Mars and Envy chained by Cupid below: HET GULDEN CABINET | VANDE EDEL VRY SCHILDER, CONST | INHOUDENDE | DEN LOF VANDE VERMARSTE | SCHILDERS, | ARCHITECTE, BELDTHOWERS | ENDE PLAETSNYDERS | VAN DESE EEVW | DOOR | CORN: DE BIE NOTS. | TOT | LIER | 1661. ||
    • In lower margin below the image frame: t’Antwerpen gedruckt by Ian Meyssens Constvercooper op de Eyermert inden goude Rexdalder | Abrah. a Diepenbeck delin. — Cornelis Meyssens sculpsit. || Handwritten inscription below: Frederik Verachter
    Letterpress title: HET GULDEN CABINET | VANDE EDEL VRY | SCHILDER – CONST | ontsloten door den lanck ghevvenschten | Vrede tusschen de tvee mach- | tighe Croonen van SPAIGNIEN | EN | VRANCRYCK, | Waer-inne begrepen is den ontstersse- | lijcken loss vande vermaerste | Constminnende Geesten | ENDE | SCHILDERS | Van dese Eeuvv, hier inne meest near het | leven as-gebeldt , verciert met veel ver- | makelijcke Rijmen ende Spreucken. | DOOR | Cornelis de Bie Notaris binnen Lyer. || Pagination: 2 binder’s blank leaves, engraved t.p.,[1, 2] letterpress t.p., 3-585 [586] – approbatie, [2] – colophon / blank, 1 binder’s blank leaf. Collation: Engr. t.p., A-Aaaa4 Bbbb2, plates within a collation.

    Cornelis de Bie. Het Gulden Cabinet. — Antwerp: [J. van Montfort for] Jan Meyssens, 1661 [colophon: 1662]. First edition, quarto, with engraved title, added portrait of De Bie dated 1708 mounted and inserted*, illustrated with 97 full-page engravings of artists, and an engraving of a personification of the city of Rome repeated five times; bound in full contemporary Dutch parchment over boards, tooled in blind, titled on spine; ex libris Frederik Verachter (Dutch, 1797 – 1870), archivist of the Antwerp city library, with pages of notes in his hand, signature to title, and inserted leaf with extra biographical information about one of the 280 artists of the Low Countries profiled and illustrated in this volume; contents good; ex libris Gustave Van Havre (Dutch, 1817 – 1892), with his armorial bookplate inside the front board, 24 x 19.5 x 4.5 cm.

    Catalogue raisonné: J. F. Van Someren (1888) pp. 200-202. * CORNELIUS DE BIE. ÆT. 81. 1708. | Dat Ick op D'aard Niet Anders Ben | Als Stof En Assen Ick Beken: | En Alle Mijnen Arrebeijd | Noch Van Veel Minder Weerdigheijt. || J. C. de Cock delin: — H. F. diamaer Sculpsit Antv: Ref.: Royal Collection Trust. Backer, Jacob de (Flemish, c. 1555 – c. 1585) (artist) Balen, Jan van (Flemish, 1611 – 1654) (artist) Bally, David (Dutch, 1584 – 1657) (artist) Beck, David [Beek] (Dutch, 1621 – 1656) (artist) Bie, Cornelis de (Flemish, 1627 – 1711) (author) Bloemaert, Abraham (Dutch, 1565 – 1658) (artist) Borcht I, Hendrik van der, the Elder (Flemish, 1583 – 1651) (artist) Borcht II, Hendrik van der, the Younger (German 1614 –  1676)  (artist) Bouttats, Frederik, the Elder (Flemish, 1590 – 1661) (attributed to) (engraver) Bramer, Leonard [Leendert] (Dutch, 1596 – 1674) (artist) Bronckhorst, Jan Gerritsz van (Dutch, 1603-1661) (artist) Bylert, Jan van (Dutch, 1603 – 1671) (artist) Caukercken, Cornelis van (Flemish, 1626 – 1680) (engraver) Collin, Richard (Luxembourgish, 1627 – 1698) (engraver) Coques, Gonzales (Flemish, 1614 – 1684) (artist) Cossiers, Joannes (Flemish, 1600 – 1671) (artist) Danckerts de Rij, Peter (Dutch, 1605-1660) (artist) Dipenbeeck, Abraham van (Dutch, 1596 – 1675) (artist) Does, Antony van der (Flemish, 1609 –1680) (engraver) Dyck, Anthony van (Flemish, 1599 – 1641) (artist) François, Pierre (fl. 1643) (artist) Hecke, Jan van den, the Elder (Flemish, 1620 – 1684) (engraver) Heil, Daniel van (Flemish, 1604 – 1664) (artist) Heil, Jan Baptiste van (Flemish, 1609 – 1685) (artist) Heil, Leo van (Flemish, 1605 – c. 1664) (artist) Helt Stockade, Nicolaes van (Dutch, 1614 – 1669) (artist) Hollar, Wenceslaus [Hollar, Václav; Wenzel] ( Bohemian, 1607 – 1677) (artist) Hondius I, Hendrick [de Hondt] (Flemish-Dutch, 1573 – 1650) (artist) Janssens, Cornelis van Ceulen [Johnson, Cornelius] (Flemish-Dutch, 1593-1664) (artist) Jode I, Pieter de, the Elder (1570 – 1634) (engraver) Jordaens, Jacob (Flemish, 1593 – 1678) (artist) Lint, Peter van (Flemish, 1609 – 1690) (artist) Meyssens, Cornelis (Flemish, 1639 – fl.1673) (engraver) Meyssens, Joannes [Johannes, Jan, Jean] (Flemish, 1612 – 1670) Mola, Pier Francesco (Italian, 1612 – 1666) (artist) Monte, Deodat del [Mont, Deodat van der; Delmont, Deodatus] (Flemish, 1582 – 1644) (artist) Montfort, Jan van (fl. c. 1595 – 1644) (printer) Padoanino, Francisco (Italian, 1660) (artist) Poelenburgh, Cornelis van [Poelenburch] (Dutch, 1594 – 1667) (artist) Pontius, Paulus (Flemish, 1603 – 1658) (engraver) Quellinus, Erasmus, the Younger (Flemish, 1607 – 1678) (artist) Reni, Guido (Italian,  1575 – 1642) (artist) Sadeler II, Egidius (Flemish, c.1570 – 1629) (artist) Saftleven, Herman, the Younger (Dutch, 1609 – 1685) (artist) Seghers, Gerard (Flemish, 1591 - 1651) (artist) Snyers, Hendrik (Flemish, 1611 – 1644) (engraver) Soutman, Pieter Claesz (Dutch, 1593/1601 – 1657) (artist) Steen, Franciscus van der (Flemish, 1625 – 1672) (engraver) Teniers, David, the Younger (Flemish, 1610 – 1690) (artist) Venne, Adriaen van de [Adriaen Pietersz] (Dutch, 1589 – 1662) (artist) Voet, Alexander, the Elder (Flemish, 16-8/1613 – 1689) (engraver) Vorsterman, Lucas, the Elder (Flemish, 1595-1675) (engraver) Waumans, Conraed (Flemish, 1619 – 1675) (engraver) Willaerts, Adam (Dutch, 1577 – 1664) (artist)
  • Title: Emblemata | Florentii Schoon~ | hovii I. C. Goudani, | Partim moralia | partim etiam Civilia. | Cum latiori eorundem ejusdem | Auctoris interpretatione. | Accedunt et alia quædam | Poëmatia in alijs Poëma | tum suorum libris non | contenta. | Amstelodami. | Apud | Joannem Janßonium •1635• Size: 20 x15.5 cm, small 4to Edition: 3rd edition (the first two editions being by Burier, Gouda, 1618 and by Elzevir, Leiden, 1626. Collation: ¶/*6, A-Z4, Aa-Ff4, Gg2. Pagination: [2] - enrgaved t.p. / blank, [6] - dedication, [2] - lectori benevolo, [2] - in commend. / frontis. engraved portrait of  Gerardus Traudenius – academic/intellectual; author/poet (Dutch, fl. 1615 – 1623), 1-235. Illustrated with engraved title, portrait of dedicatee, and 74 engraved emblems by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger (1594/5 – 1670). Binding: bound in full contemporary Dutch blind-stamped parchment over thin boards, laced case construction, inked title to spine, no flyleaves, signature washed from the title, the blank margin of title trimmed away at head, slight marginal water stain to the first signature, front bottom board corner bumped.  
  • Seller's description: "pottery jar presenting a circular, concave base, an apple-form body, a cylindrical neck, and an annular flared rim. Boasting a lustrous burnish, the gorgeous vessel displays three narrow vertical panels in a hue of cream over mottled shades of chocolate brown and mocha on its body and a caramel-coloured neck and rim. The discoid lid features a lovely natural woodgrain surface incised with three decorative concentric circles around a petite knob-like handle. Note the beautiful globules of glaze that decorate the periphery of the base! This type of vessel is known as Seto ware." Size: Dia: 13 cm, H: 14 cm.
  • Iron tsuba of a spindle shape (tate-itomaki-gata) pierced and inlaid in brass suemon-zōgan with bellflowers, vines and foliage, and a dragonfly in the upper right corner, on both sides. One of the hitsu-ana plugged with grey metal (led or pewter), nakaga-ana fitted with copper sekigane. The shape of the tsuba may be interpreted as  four saddles connected to each other by horse bits. Such a design of sukashi and zōgan is usually attributed to Kaga Yoshirō branch of Heianjo school, active in the second half of the 17th century (c. 1650-1700). Size: 95.9 mm diagonal; 4.1 mm thickness. Tokubetsu Kicho certificate № 332 issued by NBTHK on October 12, 1965.  
  • Iron tsuba of round form pierced (sukashi) in a chessboard fashion and decorated with linear (sen-zōgan) and cast (suemon-zōgan) brass inlay, including symbols of the swastika, flower-lozenge, maple leaf, pine needle, etc. on both sides; rim and openings outlined with brass inlay. Nakagō-ana plugged with copper fittings (sekigane).

    Momoyama period. End of the 16th - beginning of the 17th century. Dimensions: Diameter: 75.5; Thickness: 4.5 mm.  
  • Iron tsuba decorated with sparrows and bamboo inlaid and chiseled in yellow brass, with snow lying on bamboo leaves inlaid in silver-ish shibuichi. Copper sekigane. The kogai-hitsu-ana probably cut out at a later date. Heianjō school. Unsigned. Height: 86.0 mm, Width: 85.4 mm, Thickness at seppa-dai: 2.9 mm. Momoyama or early Edo period, first half of the 17th century. Merrily Baird, Symbols..., page 118: "The association of the sparrow (suzume) with both bamboo and rice heads is an old one found in Japanese poetry, paining, and design."
  • Iron tsuba of round form with two ebi (lobster) on omote (obverse side) and shika (deer) among scattered momiji (maple leaves) on ura (reverse side) motif in brass takabori (high relief) suemon-zōgan. Traces of lacquer. Unsigned. Late Muromachi / Momoyama period (late 16th / Early 17th century). Dimensions: 69.0.6 mm (H) x 69.6 mm (W) x 3.4 mm (T, seppa-dai). Weight: 92.6 g. Illustrated at: The Lundgren Collection of Japanese Swords, Sword Fittings and A Group of Miochin School Metalwork. Christie's Auction: Tuesday, 18 November 1997, London. Sales "GOTO-5881". Christie's, 1997. - #2 at page 7. Provenance: The second John Harding; The Lundgren Collection. Description at Christie's: "The iron plate depicting two lobsters in takabory and brass takazogan, the reverse similarly decorated with deer among scattered maple leaves, square mimi, late Muromachi / early Momoyama period (late 16th/early 17th century) Diameter 68 mm, mimi thickness 4 mm. Provenance: The second John Harding." Also at: JAPANESE SWORD-FITTINGS & METALWORK IN THE LUNDGREN COLLECTION. Published by Otsuka Kogeisha, Tokyo 1992. № 134. Description on page 173: Sword guard with design of shrimps in inlay (scarlet [sic] maple leaves and deer on the reverse side). Unsigned. Heianjō inlay school. Vertical 6.85 cm, horizontal 6.90 cm, Th. of rim 0.40 cm. Iron. Taka-bori relief and brass inlay. Momoyama period, 16th - 17th century. According to Merrily Baird, maple leaves, especially if paired with the deer, allude to autumnal tradition of Japanese aristocracy of viewing the seasonal changes of color in the Nara area. The lobster is typical Japanese ebi, - it lacks prominent claws, and has a spiny shell. As a symbol of longevity and good fortune, lobster is a staple of New Year's decoration.
  • Relatively thick iron tsuba of rounded square form with slightly elevated rim decorated in carving (sukidashi-bori) and yellow brass (shinchū) inlay (suemon-zōgan) with legendary creatures (humans with cow heads) in a pine tree forrest on the face,  and a horned man with a stick hunting a rabbit in the woods on the reverse.  Large hitsu-ana possibly cut off later on. In the beginning of the 20th century such tsuba were usually attributed to Fushimi-Kaga school. This one may be attributed to either Ōnin or to Heianjō. The latter seems most plosible because of the thick web and dull patina. The technique may also be called "shinchū-zōgan". Momoyama or early Edo period. Unsigned. Dimensions: 72.3 x 68.4 x 4.1 mm
  • Iron tsuba of almost round form with a brass outlined circular opening (sukashi) in the bottom adorned with the Myriad Treasures [takaramono, 宝物] and winter motifs inlaid in cast brass (suemon-zōgan); hitsu-ana possibly cut later, both plugged with shakudo, nakaga-ana fitted with copper sekigane. According to Merrily Baird*) (2001), the symbolism of Myriad Treasures “is associated with the Seven Gods of Good Luck, who carry them in a sack”. Among the treasures, which are said to ensure prosperity, long life, and general good fortunes, are (reading clockwise from the top):
    1. Sake set [shuki, 酒器], namely flask, ladle, and cups
    2. Cloves [choji, 丁子]
    3. Purse of inexhaustible reaches [kinchaku, 巾着]
    4. Magic mallet [kozuchi, 小槌]
    5. Key to the storehouse of the Gods [kagi, 鍵]
    Then, Pine, Moon, and Bamboo (see below);
    1. Rhombus, or Lozenge (hosho, 方勝), with the second ideograph meaning victory.
    2. Sacred (or wish-granting) gem, or jewel [hōju, 宝珠]
    3. Hats of invisibility [kakuregasa, 隠れ笠]
    The Myriad Treasures is carried by the Seven Gods of Good Luck (a.k.a. the Seven Lucky Gods or Seven Gods of Fortune [shichifukujin, 七福神], who are transported by the Treasure Ship [takarabune, 宝船] during the first three days of the New Year. Pine, Moon, and Bamboo: bamboo [take, 竹] and pinecones [matsukasa, 松笠], or pine [matsu, 松] – two of the Three Friends of Winter [shōchikubai, 松竹梅] – symbolize fidelity, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. The third ‘friend’  – plum, [ume, 梅] – in this case replaced by the Moon [tsuki, 月] – large (11 mm) circular opening at 6 o’clock; the three small carved dots represent the dewdrops. The other side is decorated with an arabesque (karakusa) of cloves and vines, with carved dots (dewdrops) along the rim. The overall New Year / Winter connotation of the tsuba is clear. The prominence of the Moon conveys purity, coldness (sadness/loneliness), and slenderness – the inherent qualities of a samurai. H: 93 mm x W: 90 mm, thickness 4.2 mm at the centre, slightly tapered towards the rim. *) Merrily Baird. Symbols of Japan: Thematic motifs in art and design. — NY: Rizzoli international publications, 2001. Seller’s description: École Heianjo - Début Époque EDO (1603 - 1868). Nagamaru gata en fer à décor incrusté en hira-zogan de laiton de tama, choji, jarre à saké et des attributs de Daikoku (maillet, chapeau d'invisibilité et sac de richesse) et de branches de choji de l'autre côté et ajourée en kage-sukashi d'un cercle. H. 9,2 cm