Single-Owner Collections

A Japanese magari-yari, Edo period, with stylistic trident (bull’s horn) head, head length 18.5cm, the long tang with single hole piercing and signed to one face, mounted on an oak shaft, the upper grip sections of corrugated black lacquer with cord and copper bindings , the upper collar bearing the mon of the Inaba family, with conical hirumaki terminal, overall length 208.5cm (shaft probably shortened at some time), the blade with textured black lacquer saya. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased Swap Shop, Croydon, 29th December 1961, for £3. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 138, plate 18. Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Yamashiro No Kuni Monju Kaneshige.

A Japanese magari-yari spearhead, Edo period, of stylistic trident (bull’s horn) form, head length 14.5cm, the tang with single hole piercing and signed indistinctly to two faces, overall length 52.5cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).

A Japanese hira-sankaku-yari spearhead, Edo period, with fine triangular section point, head length 18cm, one face with deep long fuller, the long tang with double hole piercings and signed to one face, overall length 53cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Yamashiro No Kami Kunishige, who worked between 1751 and 1764.

A fine Japanese su-yari spearhead with triangular-section point, head length 21.5cm, one face with fine narrow fuller picked out with red lacquer, the tang with single hole piercing and faint remains of a signature to one face, overall length 47cm, the blade with red lacquer and gilt-decorated saya, detailed with the mon of the Hojo family, together with another saya with similar decoration. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted the spearhead was probably 16th century.

Two Japanese ryo-shinogi-yari, Edo period, each with flattened four-faced diamond-section heads, head lengths 16cm and 15.5cm, with single and double-pierced tangs, one signed to one face, overall lengths 64cm and 50cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted both probably 16th/17th century. Signature unidentified.

A Japanese hira-sankaku-yari, probably 16th century, with triangular-section head, head length 14.5cm, with fine single fuller to one face, the long unsigned tang with single hole piercing, mounted on an oak shaft, the upper grip section with textured red lacquer finish and gilt rattan binding, overall length 226.5cm (mounts lacking). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted probably 16th century.

Two Japanese hira-sankaku-yari spearheads, Azuchi–Momoyama/Edo period, with heavy gauge triangular-section heads, head lengths 12.5cm and 6.8cm, each with fine groove fuller to each face and long tang with single hole piercing, both unsigned, overall lengths 32cm and 25cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted late 16th/early 17th century and used mainly by horsemen.

A Japanese horseman’s yari spearhead, Edo period, with fine four-faced swollen-form tip, head length 9.5cm, the tang with single hole piercing and interestingly signed in red lacquer below the fitting hole, overall length 29cm, mounted on a long slender oak shaft, the upper grip section with corrugated black lacquer finish, copper and rattan bindings and iron horn-form hirumaki terminal, overall length 248cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: the head illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 168 plate 33. Roald Knutsen noted late 17th/early 18th century.

A fine Japanese socketed yari spearhead, Edo period, with four-face diamond-section point, length 16cm, and socket fitting with piercing for attachment, unsigned, overall length 28.5cm, with later textured green lacquer saya. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: illustrated In ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 188, plate 43, with detailed description, certified as the work of Nobukuni school of Chikuzen, late 17th century, the ascription made by Fujiwara No Nobuyoshi.

Two similar Japanese hira-sankaku-yari spearheads, Edo period, with triangular-section points, head lengths 15cm and 13.5cm, each with one fullered face, the tangs with single hole piercings, both unsigned. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted both probably 18th century.

A Japanese horseman’s yari spearhead, Edo period, with heavy gauge triangular-section head, head length 11cm, with deep-fullered groove to each face, the unusually long tang with double hole piercings and signed to one face, overall length 82.5cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 168 plate 33. Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Kunitomo Minamoto No Masahisa, not dated but probably late 17th century.

A scarce and unusual Japanese naginata with long double-edged blade, blade length 41cm, detailed with groove-like fuller to one side, the other with horimono detailed as a vajra-bladed ken, the tang with single hole piercing and signed to one face, overall length 68cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Mu(Sashi)-Shu Fujiwara No Ju Yasunobu, and noted possibly Muromachi period, 15th century.

A Japanese arrowhead, Edo period, with fine karimata head, head length 10.5cm, and fine long tang, overall length 47cm, together with two Japanese samurai war bows, Edo period, with black lacquer finish and red lacquered rattan binding, lengths 215cm and 187cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); acquired from David Tudor-Williams Collection 1962. Note: arrowhead probably 17th century.

A collection of Japanese wooden spear shafts, Edo period, some detailed with mother-of-pearl decoration and various copper fittings, with various shaped iron hirumaki terminals, length of longest 221cm, together with a small group of other cut-down shaft sections. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: some of these hirumaki are illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, pages 204 and 206, plates 51 and 52. They were probably used by Roald Knutsen for research.

A group of four Japanese saya, Edo period, comprising three with textured lacquer finish, including a magari-yari style example and a plain oak example of slender waisted form, length of longest 42cm (losses). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).

A collection of various Japanese sword, spear and other fittings, Edo period, including a sword type grip, decorated with fine bronze and gilt-decorated menuki fittings of shishi dogs playing, length 22.5cm, and an iron hadome, late 17th century, length 28cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 200, plate 49.

A scarce Japanese sashimono-no-bukuro, Edo period, the fine square-section black lacquered body with gilt copper hinged lid and decorated with seven gilt painted mon, with winged support bracket, height 34.5cm, together with an unusual gilt-finished stitched leather maedate or helmet symbol in the form of a claw-like motif, height 16cm, and two matching higher ranking officers’ shoulder fittings or plates, one of steel construction with applied fine gilt metal mon and border mounts supporting a paper-like material ground, decorated with foliate trellis designs, the other similar but with fabric-bound three-section lacquered scales, length 22cm (all with environmental damage). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: sashimono-no-bukuro were storage containers for sashimono, small banners worn on the back of armour to identify households on the battlefield.

A Chinese spear, 19th century, with waisted-form socketed head, head length 37.5cm, mounted on a long hardwood shaft, overall length 187cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).

A small group of poignant Japanese training weapons, used by Roald and Patricia Knutsen at full-contact Kendo events, comprising three shinai of typical four-slat construction and two Hokkaido oak bokuto, with their inscribed slip case, length of longest 117cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).