A fine Japanese inoshishi-no-yari, Edo period, with fine deep-section openwork leaf-shaped blade, blade length 20cm, with remnants of red lacquer decoration to the internal pierced faces, the long unsigned tang with single hole piercing, mounted on an associated oak shaft, the upper grip sections lacquer-finished to imitate fishskin, with plain copper metal collars and steel hirumaki terminal, overall length 205cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); ex H. Russell Robinson Collection. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 184, plate 41. Roald Knutsen noted that this was probably a hunting spear for wild boar. H. Russell Robinson’s opinion was that it was 17th century.