Antique Japanese circular jingasa with a gradually pointed top. Textured to simulate leather and lacquered a bronze color with red and gold lacquer on the underside. The raised, carved lacquer kikusui (chrysanthemum and water) mon is covered in gold leaf. The Kikusui mon was used by Masashige Kusunoki, a samurai lord who helped overthrow the Kamakura Shogunate. Kusunoki was loyal to the Emperor Godaigo and was awarded the use of the Kiku mon which he personalized to create this Kikusui... Click for details

An exempliary Japanese 18th century Edo Period Myochin school iron somen (full facial armor). Constructed in three sections producing a very expressive fearsome face. The stylized curled eyebrows, bulging eyes, forehead wrinkles repouse in high relief.
The bulbous noise and upper lip is riveted on. The mouth section has two large rings on the cheeks and is hinged to the upper face portion. The chin has two cord pegs. The sides have iron coverings to protect he ears. The mustache is... Click for details

Antique pair of Japanese menuki. These small but detailed elements of a traditional samurai sword were originally made to hide the pins (mekugi) that hold the back end of the blade (tang) to the hilt (tsuka). Made in pairs, they were positioned on either side of the handle. These menuki are especially fine and depict two men, likely sages by their long hair. Probably they are the friends, Kanzan (the Zen poet) and Jittoku (a servant at a monastery). They are made of bronze and mixed... Click for details

Antique Japanese uma-jirushi, flag standard for battle. This uma-jirushi is a large inverted gourd surrounded by smaller gourds. The great daimyo, Hideyoshi Toyotomi (famous for being the second unifier of Japan) made the upside down gourd his uma-jirushi symbol. A large upside down gourd was placed on top of his flag pole and smaller gourds were added around it with each victory. Called "Sen nari hisago" or "thousand gourds". The gourd also symbolizes the 7 Lucky Gods, good luck, good... Click for details

Antique Japanese full length tanegashima rifle with working original matchlock mechanism. Made of burl keyaki hardwood with original lacquer finish. The hand forged iron barrel is inlaid with a 3/4 length silver dragon swirling through clouds. Original decorative brass fittings with auspicious animals such as fu-dogs, birds and flowers. Unusual silver inlaid stripes on the mouth of the barrel.

Comes with custom iron stand to aid in display. (In the group picture, this tanagashima is... Click for details

An antique Japanese full length tanegashima rifle with working original matchlock mechanism. Hand made of high figure burl keyaki hardwood with original translucent lacquer finish. The whole length of the hand forged iron barrel is inlaid with a swirling silver dragon in clouds and the crest of the noble Tokugawa clan with six character mark which reads: 松平三河守 Matsudaira Mikawa-no-kami. Matsudaira refers to the Matsudaira clan. Mikawa-no-kami is a title that was held by Tokugawa... Click for details

An unusual shorter length Japanese tanegashima (gun rifle) with working original matchlock mechanism. Made of hardwood with original dark lacquer finish. Iron barrel has a silver inlaid sasa mon (bamboo leaf crest). Elaborate brass work includes many chrysanthemum florets.

Comes with custom iron stand to aid in display. (In the group picture, this tanagashima is the second from the front.)

Age: Edo Period (c. 1830's)

Dimensions: 38 1/4" long (12" high on... Click for details

Antique Japanese tanegashima short rifle (gun) with working original matchlock mechanism. Not original barrel, this one has been replaced with a shorter forged barrel onto the rifle wood stock.
Made of hardwood with lacquer finish. Silver inlay on the iron barrel includes an rare arrow motif. Elaborate brass work includes little florets and frolicking fu-dogs. Comes with custom iron stand to aid in display. (This tanagashima is the front gun in the group picture.)

Age: Edo... Click for details

Antique Japanese yari saya, carved wooden cover for a yari spear. Favored by many samurai and ashigaru (foot soldiers) for the reached allowed by the long pole arm, the yari was a popular weapon for greater military use. At times of peace during the Edo Period, the yari also acted as a ceremonial weapon. The job of the yari saya was to protect the blade when not in use. Often the yari saya was decorated, in this case with inlaid shell. Over the shell is a very fine scrolling vine motif... Click for details

Antique Japanese bajo jingasa, lacquered military hat for a horseman. Decorated with textured brown lacquer and with the Kyogoku family mon in gold. The underside is lacquered red with a black circle in the center and four hooks for chords.

The samurai class in feudal Japan, as well as their retainers and footsoldiers (ashigaru ) used several types of jingasa made from iron, copper, wood, paper, bamboo, or leather and usually treated with lacquer for weather proofing and... Click for details