The expression of this armor, with its dragon and carp maedate transformation, sets the tone of its mythological meaning. The red armor has a Zunari Kabuto decorated with a Nichirin sun motif, which supports the dragon and carp conversion. The menpo is a Reisei-men with rabbit hair mustache, rendering a fierce warrior’s expression. The menpo is attached with four Kiritsuke yodare in blue and gold silk cords...

An original 18th century Japanese Namban armor with momonari type kabuto. The wisteria meadate and other occurrences of variations of the Fuji mon belongs to the Fujiwara Clans. The meadate matches that of the family crest seen on the armor. The black lacquered dou is textured with crushed oyster shell in fine detail. The armor is presented with the original hitsu (armor box) with gold beautiful gold calligraphy on the sides...

A katchushi mutsu-gata sukashi tsuba. The six lobed, thin plated armorer's tsuba with good tekkotsu and with openwork decoration was described by Skip Holbrook (ex collection) as Saotome made and depicting three birds. The Saotome were a line of armorers (katchu) turned tsuba makers...

A well forged, handsome mokume tsuba in mokko-gata form with katakiri-bori landscape decoration on both the omote and ura. The mokume grain is large and well controlled reminding one of ayasugi hada. In fact, this tsuba is indeed a tosho (swordsmith's) tsuba, being made by [Kai Ju] Kiyonaga and dated the third year of Bunkyo (1863) believed to be the same as KIY 298 referenced in Hawley's, Japanese Swordsmiths...

Rare and exceptional tanto of the Koto period with a polishing perfectly revealing the metallurgical qualities of the blade accompanied by a completely extraordinary lacquer and inlays sheath. The blade is in hira zukuri with a forge (hada) itame, a quenching in suguha. The tip (boshi) is chu maru. On the nakago in ubu keitai there are 2 mekugi ana...

A simple, small but stout iron tsuba. The Myochin line of metal workers were armor makers who also produced tsuba. The simple decoration upper-right here could be a flower head or a snowflake. Udenuki-ana appear lower left. Good condition. Height 2 3/4 inches (69 cm), Width 2 9/16 inches (65 cm), and 6/32 of an inche (5 mm) thick.

This superb helmet bowl is comprised of 64 iron plates that are slightly embossed between the suji, double front plates, and a washer underneath the top front riveted inside. The bowl has been given a very dark russet finish and fitted with a simple iron visor. The meadate is a forged iron hornet with gilt brass wings. The shikkoro of five - lames of false scale laced in blue silk and brown russet lacquer...

Introduced to Japan through the Portuguese in 1543. Intended for use by mounted samurai, these pistols where called horsemen cannon's (Bajo zutsu).
They proved however to be totally impractical weapons to fire, since the rider had to ignite a piece of chord to the lock, while aiming the chamber and at the same time controlling his moving horse. None the less, owning a pistol remained a symbol of a samurai family's power, rank, and wealth...

A small antique Japanese iron tsuba decorated with motifs of cherry blossoms blown in the wind. The tsuba is decorated in a way where on one side is a branch of the cherry blossoms and the other side is the flowers scattered on the ground. The flowers are done in a shakudo style technique. Size: Diameter 2.75" Height 0.2"

Antique Japanese Samurai meadate (samurai helmet decoration) of a gilt dragon made of hand carved wood with dry lacquer with metal details on tail/whiskers. Whimsical flowing hair and long eye lashes. Mounted on a custom antiqued bronze metal/walnut stand for presentation.

Age: Mid Edo period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 11″ High x 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2"

Antique Japanese light weight Jingasa (Samurai hat) made with a basketweave bamboo and paper coated in black and red lacquer. The front of the hat has the gilt paulownia leaf mon (family crest) with the top decorated with a three prong yari forming a trident.

Edo age (circa 1830's)

Size: 15.5" W x 3.5"

Antique Japanese Edo period 1600-1868, Samurai war hat Nirayama Jingasa kabuto made of finely hand-woven bamboo fiber with a black lacquered exterior, adorned on each side with gold samurai nobility family crest - moon. The interior is lacquered with red urushi...

Rare Antique Japanese Edo period samurai kozuka knife handle, made of copper-gold alloy (shakudō). Exterior adorned with a finely executed raised design of a snail cruising on a warabi. Very nice Kozuka with a rare design of a snail.

CONDITION: Age and usage are showing, with its original patina.

Please notice that the pictures in the listing are part of the description of the object's condition...

Antique Japanese bronze Shakudo (mixture of Gold and Copper) menuki of a fu dog with signature engraved on its backside. Menuki are one of many components to a Japanese sword, mounted as an ornament on the tsuka (handle). They are believed by some to secure the swordsman's grip. Size: 1 1/4" Long x .5" wide

Antique Japanese menuki of a snarling fu dog's head over gilt flowing "fabric", made with gold ,silver, shakudo,copper and bronze.. Menuki are one of many components to a Japanese sword, mounted as an ornament on the tsuka (handle). They are believed by some to secure the swordsman's grip. Size: 1.75" long, .5" wide

Antique Japanese hikeshi banten, fireman's coat. Made of layers of cotton fabric and stitched in the sashiko quilting technique. Fires were common in Japanese urban areas due to the dense population as well as construction material (primarily wood and paper). Fire brigades were made up of samurai class (buke hikeshi) as well as common class (machi hikeshi). Their primary goal in containing a fire was to tear down the surrounding buildings so the fire had no more fuel...

Small bronze cannon of this type where made for shooting flaming arrows at ships, launching fireworks at festivals, and for signaling purposes. The example of cast bronze with a bore that is described as at the breach and the bore is reduced to a half round section to form a chamber for the powder mount for use. The gun would be imbedded into a wooded block such as the lower half of the barrel and the entire breach end is covered...

Small bronze cannon of this type where made for shooting flaming arrows at ships, launching fireworks at festivals, and for signaling purposes. The example of cast bronze with a bore that is described as at the breach and the bore is reduced to a half round section to form a chamber for the powder mount for use. The gun would be imbedded into a wooded block such as the lower half of the barrel and the entire breach end is covered. Mounted on custom iron stand.

Meiji Period 19th Ce...