Bugyotsuji

It could be based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West, where the horse is one of the set characters. (Saiyuki, the origins of Monkey Magic.) The priest on the horse has ambivalent sexuality, sometimes portrayed as female. White Dragon Horse - Wikipedia

She could stamp all over you, Bruce.

Hmmm........... this is a tough one. I'd like to agree on fundo, scale weights, but the two circles are complete and do not open out at the edges, which would be an essential feature. For this reason I temporarily reserve judgement. 丸に二曜紋 (Maru ni futa-yomon) is probably what it should be called if it existed, 'two celestial bodies in a circle', but the Yomon seem to start at three and go up to 9, i.e. (Kuyomon) 九曜文 and beyond.　(Never as low as two?) 丸に二つ星紋 might also work, if you call these bodies 'hoshi' or 'stars'. 家紋二つ星紋 - 検索 画像 (bing.com) My guess is that it's a later kamon made up following the end of the feudal era.

Colin, it’s two tsuba, a Daisho set.

If it's any consolation, the description is detailed and accurate. Sadly I have other commitments that weekend. I would have loved to be there. This summer has been a complete washout for such fairs. Grrr...

I remember being asked for help with this a few years back, helping out with the details, the Mei reading, comparative examples, etc.

From the external features this looks to be a wonderful, near pristine example, Colin. Good luck! (PS This is the kind of gun we fire regularly at exhibitions in Japan, but a very nice example.)

Hmmm… since the standing figure wears a (symbolic?) sword, I am getting a stronger feeling that this scene shows the young Yoshitsune at long last meeting his half-brother Yoritomo, sitting before Yoritomo and offering his services. Yoshitsune went on to be a brilliant and well-loved general as the Minamoto (Gen) beat the Taira (Hei), but, without realizing it, in so doing he had aroused the jealousy of his older brother.

Do you mean Kuriyama Chiaki from Kill Bill?

Does a magnet stick to the bowl?

This Mitsunaga came up here on the NMB a few weeks ago.

It means the province of Hizen, in Kyushu.

Hizen Koku, (Hizen no Kuni). 肥前国

No, I agree with Colin that a slim iron pin could have been hammered into the soft copper in order to stretch it for a slightly better fit. (Does the nakago have a bulge in it? Did you have trouble taking off the habaki?)

"NE EDO, 1000000000000000000 %" Simon, does "NE EDO" above mean "not Edo"? (Just asking for a friend.)

The iron gate looks like the entrance to a fort. They look like figures from Kamakura times. Maybe it is something to do with the story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, or Yoritomo in the cave, with the warrior letting down his hair. The raised right silver hand could have been degraded by movement of the seppa. (?) Famous Kokuho painting by Maeda Seison. 「前田青邨展」、岐阜県美術館で開催中 | お知らせ | 朝日新聞社の会社案内 (asahi.com)

No, I do not know when it was made, Jason, nor what the value might be. Whatever someone would pay for it...(?) My personal feeling from little signs here and there is that it was made sometime during the 1900s, but I have no proof. I am sure others will add their opinions later today, both subtle and unsubtle, and they may well say that I am wrong. This is why I did not really want to say much more.

Jason, these were (and still are) created mainly for their decorative value and historical connotations. Many people enjoy them like that. Even if it were from the Edo period, it would still be a reproduction of a much earlier type of armor which died out long before the Edo period.

Nice box, maybe belonging in the "Boxes we like" thread! Unusually fluid, beautiful writing for a carpenter. Quite eccentric, though!

Various things here: https://www.google.com/search?q=粹光斉兼明造之.&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari

Can you get a shot of the full vertical black ink name above, ending in 男? (As with the previous example, it could be a good clue.)

Oh, come on! There is too much finger-pointing around here. “I’m done here”, as some folks are fond of repeating each time.

The seller could be advertising the store, and fishing for individual offers. Is this only the second time it's been offered? (Oh, and I reckon your 180,000 is pretty close.)

真恒、有恒....................(?) Masatsune, Aritsune perhaps? Plus kao 花王. Confidence level, 20% on the first kanji, 80% on the second. (Just reaching for my hat and cloak)

My bet is it will be pulled at... (name any price below ￥400,000).