Width: 33cms
Date: 19th Century
£POA - What does POA mean?
Product Code: LAKP1918
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A Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912) Tanto with silver mounts, a gold lacquer saya and handle inlaid with fine Shibiyama style decoration depicting an entertainer, birds and tree in bloom to the sheath and vases of flowers to the handle, the blade engraved with a dragon.
Signed to blade
Condition – Excellent
Exemption Certificate number – 3MS4ZD4E
Samurai
The famous samurai of Japan were a hereditary military nobility caste who help to shape and rule Japan from the 12th Century to their abolition in the Meiji period. In Japan samurai are known as bushi (meaning warrior) they we’re usually associated with a clan or lord and were highly trained officers in combat and strategy. They lived by the code of bushido (way of the warrior) which was Confucian in origin, and taught loyalty, self discipline and respect. They used many weapons including spears, bows and arrows and later on guns, but they are most famous for their swords. The Japanese Samurai blade is made by laminating metal (repeatedly folding) to create a very sharp but brittle edge which could then be combined with a central strip of stronger metal to create a blade. Despite being the best known use of this technique Japan only adopted it in the 1200’s, Western civilizations such as the Celts had been using this method 2000 years before. The right to own and wear swords in public was a privilege granted only to the Samurai, they would usually wear a Daisho (pair) of swords, one larger than the other, there are many sizes and classes of samurai swords but the most common pairing would be the Katana and the Wakizashi.
Dragon
Dragons are hugely significant in Asian culture. Known as the Ryu or Tatsu in Japan, they are closely related to the Chinese Long and Korean Yong. Like all Asian dragons they lack wings and are serpent-like in form. The Japanese dragons rarely fly and usually reside in or near the sea and other bodies of water.
Japanese dragons have positive symbolism. They are good and represent wisdom, generosity and they are portrayed as using their powers to help mankind. (Unlike the Dragons of Western mythology.)
Generally you can tell a Chinese dragon from a Japanese by counting the toes, a Chinese having four or five and a Japanese having three.
Tanto
Although a sword the Tanto is used more like a knife, the blade can be single or double edged and is between 15-30cm long which is equal to one Japanese shaku. (A Japanese foot) The Tanto is often worn with a Katana or tachi. The Tanto is traditionally the blade that would have been used for Seppuku, the ritual suicide performed by Samurai.
Saya
Saya is the Japanese term for a scabbard.
Shibayama
Shibayama is a style of complex high inlay decoration in mother of pearl, ivory, shell, coral, horn and wood. Shibayama was the name of the workshop to popularize this style.
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We are members of BADA, LAPADA and CINOA, working closely with these associations and we are very proud of our reputation as one of the most established, valued and trusted dealers of Japanese and Chinese Art and Antiques in the industry.
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