Attributed to Shibayama Yasumasa (Ekisei), Meiji era (1868–1912), late 19th/early 20th century The scabbard and hilt of kinji lacquer with details in gold and aokin (mixed gold and silver) takamaki-e, elaborately encrusted in typical Shibayama style with Chinese auspicious motifs, on one side with Shoshi seated astride a dragon and reading a scroll, on the other side his wife holding a sprig of peony and riding a ho-o bird, the silver kabutogane (pommel) in the form of another ho-o bird in silver, the aikuchi (fittings where the hilt and scabbard meet), kurikata (cord runner) and kojiri (decorative ornament at the base of the scabbard) also of silver, delicately engraved with paulownia and foliate designs, the en-suite gold-lacquer kozuka (knife handle) similarly inlaid in Shibayama style with two karako (Chinese boys) brandishing a banner, the blade of plain hirazukuri form; signed with a red-lacquer seal Yasu. Total length: 40cm (15¾in) long; the blade: 24cm (9 7/8in) long.