19thC Antique Japanese Lacquer Maki-e Pipe Case Kiseruzutsu Archery Armor Signed

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19thC Antique Japanese Lacquer Maki-e Pipe Case Kiseruzutsu Archery Armor Signed:
$395.00

Beautiful late Edo or early Meiji Period muso-zutsu stylepipe case or kiseru-zutsu. The piece is black lacquer that has been carved witha vignette of a warrior in traditional Japanese armor. A tall pine tree stands behind the figure,seeming to disappear in the clouds and re-emerge in the top of the case. The details of the figure are finely carvedand colored with maki-e done in gold and silver. The samurai wields a drawn bow with an arrowthat has a forked head on it. This is akarimata arrowhead, a type used both in battle and to hunt large game. He seemsto be wearing Do-maru style armor, and the kote and tekke (arm and hand guard)that he wears are clearly depicted.Initially, I thought that the figure was not wearing a helmet, but thestylized facial features and silver coloration make me think he is wearing menyoro, face armor that was often made of steel and modeled with ferocious facialfeatures to make the samurai more intimidating, and a kawari-kabuto helmet thatis covered with hair. The level of detail shown in the armor and weapons may bea reflection of the transition of craft from the manufacture of arms to theproduction of more pacific objects used in daily life. The samurai class declined during the end ofthe Tokugawa Period, leading many artisans who had been employed in craftingarmor and weaponry to use their skills in filling other markets. Perhaps the artist who crafted this objecthad originally been employed in making scabbards. The piece is signed, so perhaps more researchcould determine whether this is the case. The rim on the body of the case andthe attachment loop appear to have been done in bronze, the metal is elegantlyexecuted and has a beautiful, warm patina.

The case measures 8 5/8” in length(this is the shortest length when the top is fully inserted, but it isadjustable for longer pipes), 1” wide, and ¾” high (front to back). It is in overall good condition consideringits age. There is some surface wear, andthere is a short hairline crack that extends from the side of the bottomcharacter in the signature. This is veryfaint (I only noticed it when I was examining the signature with a loupe) andseems stable. There is another smallcrack in the end of the bottom section, this seems to be a surface crack thatonly impacts the lacquer. When I openthe case, it is still redolent of the rich scent of Tobacco.

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