Lot 1
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GLOSSARY Agamaki-kan: cord ring at the back of a helmet Aikuchi: a dagger Akoda-nari: melon-shaped helmet with depressed top, the rear part higher than the front, popular in the Muromachi period Aoi-mon: the triple hollyhock (aoi) crest of the Tokugawa family Ara-nie: large or coarse nie Ashi: "legs," steel structures extending downwards within the hamon Ashi-kanagu: fittings for suspending the sword from the belt Bohi: a long wide groove carved into a sword Bohi ni tsurehi: a long wide groove carved into a sword with a slender groove carved below and parallel to it Bonji: a Sanskrit character used as decoration; carved on swords, beginning in the Kamakura period Boshi: the hardened part of a sword's point; the tempering pattern on the blade's tip Bo-utsuri: pole-shaped utsuri; see also midare-utsuri Chikei: bright lines of nie following the grain Choji-midare: clove-shaped irregular and wavy tempering line Chokuto: straight, single-edged sword used until the mid-tenth century Chu-kissaki; chu-gissaki: medium-sized point Chu-maru: medium-rounded tempering line to the point Chu-sode: shoulder guards Chu-suguha: medium-width straight tempering pattern; see Suguha Daisho: "large, small," a pair of large and small objects, usually referring to swords and sword guards (tsuba) (the katana and wakizashi worn together as a set; also a set of two tsuba made for a daisho) Daienzan: hemispheric shape in helmets Daisaku: replicas of blades by a student authorized by a master smith Do: cuirass Do-maru: armor that closes along the right side of the cuirass and originally worn by foot soldiers; worn during the Muromachi period by commanders in place of heavier yoroi-type armor Eboshi: "crow cap," peaked cloth or paper court cap lacquered crow-color black worn until the mid-fifteenth century and adapted for helmets Efu no tachi: a tachi mounting style worn by a samurai of the Imperial guard Fuchi: collar fitted to a sword hilt next to the sword guard (tsuba) Fuchi-kashira: matching collar (fuchi) and pommel (kashira), one fitted to each end of a sword hilt Fukigaeshi: two turned-back flaps on either side of neck guard Fukiyose: "objects blown together by the wind" Fukura: the curve on the edge of the point Fukura-kareru: a non-rounded fukura Fukurin: edging or rim, often of gilt-copper Fumbari; funbari: Distinct tapering of blade from machi to tip Fusubegawa: lacing of brown smoked deerskin Futatsu-jibi: Double-groove along the length of the blade Gomabashi: fire tongs resembling chopsticks Gomai do: five-piece cuirass Gunome: an irregular tempering pattern with sharply pointed waves Gunome-midare: Irregular undulating tempering pattern Gusoku: "pieces"; set of armor Gyoyo: leaf-shape plates Ha: the cutting edge of a sword Ha-agari kuri jiri: uneven u-shaped tip; the point of deepest curvature that appears to be closer to the back edge of the tang Habaki: a metal sleeve that slides over the tang and fits securely at the juncture of the tang and the polished part of the sword, held in place by the notch at the back of the blade, thus giving the sword guard and hilt a buttress against which to rest Habuchi: the line of the hamon Hachi-maki: headband Hachi tsuke-ita: top plate of neck guard Hachiman-za: "Seat of [the war deity] Hachiman," the opening at the top of the helmet, also called a tehen Hada: "skin," referring to the polished surface of a sword Haidate: thigh guards Hakikake: swept or brushed tempering in the point Hako: box-form tempering pattern Hamachi: notch at the juncture of the cutting edge and tang Hamon: the temper line; the crystalline steel band defining the hardened edge Hanabishi: diamond-shaped latticework with flowers Handachi: tachi mounts used on a katana or wakizashi Harikake: technique of making ornamentation for exotic helmets similar to lacquered papier-mâché Hataraki: activity or work in the quenched area (yakiba) Hi: a groove carved in the side of a blade Higaki: crossed file marks resembling a fence Hineno-jikoro: close-fitting neck guard with lower edge given shape of the shoulders Hirazukuri: "flat construction," a flat sword without a longitudinal ridge Hiru-maki no tachi: tachi with scabbard and hilt bound with a strip of leather or other material under the lacquer that is bound in a spiral pattern Hishi-nui: decorative cross knotting Hita-tsura hamon: tempering pattern across the blade Hitsu-ana: one or two holes in a sword guard on each side of the central aperture through which the kogai and kozuka are fitted Ho-ate: half-mask Honkozane: small individually laced scales Honzukuri: the shape of a blade having a longitudinal ridge on either side; also known as shinogizukuri Horimono: "carved thing," decorative carving on the surface of a sword Hoshi: "stars," rivets on a helmet Hoshi-bachi: "star bowl," helmet bowl with the rivets protruding Hoso: flat or narrow Hoso suguha hamon: narrow and straight tempering line Hotsure: lines found in the tempered edge that stray into the ji; frayed edges Hyotan-gote: sleeves with gourd-shaped iron components Ichi: one Ichimai; ichimai boshi: a tip that is fully tempered Ikakeji: gold powder sprinkled over a lacquered surface before the lacquer is set hard Ikubi-gissaki: "boar's neck" tip; short tip relative to its width of the blade Inazuma: bright lines of nie crystals within and through the hamon; see also Kinsuji Inome: "boar's eye," type of piercing Iorimune: the peaked back of a sword Iriko: a wood piece into which a blade can be inserted, fitted into an older scabbard in order to preserve it Iriyamagata-jiri: an irregular triangular end to a tang Iro-e takazogan: variegated high-relief carving Iroiro odoshi: polychrome lacing Ishimeji: sword guard surface roughly hammered with a series of variously sized punches to give a texture resembling stone Ishizuki: the chape (metal mounting or trimming) of the scabbard of a tachi Itajikoro: neck guard of solid plates Itame: wood grain Itame-hada: wood grain forging pattern of a blade Itazane: single wide sheets, plates, scales Ito-zogan: flush inlays of fine gold wire Iriyama: asymmetrically pointed tang Iriyamagata: see iriyama Iyozane: rectangular scales Ji: the flat, or body of a blade Jigane: surface texture of steel Jifu: patches of nie on the ji Jikei: see chikei Jinie: nie appearing in the area between the longitudinal ridge and the hamon Jitetsu: alternate name for jigane Juka-choji: multilayered clove shapes, usually double or triple Jumonji yari: "cruciform" spear Juyo kodogu: "Important sword mountings," a ranking given by the N.B.T.H.K. Juyo token: "Important sword," a high ranking given a blade by the N.B.T.H.K. Kaen: Flame-shaped temper line on the point Kaeri: the turn-back in the temper line in a point Kaeritsuno, kaerizuno: the retaining hook on a scabbard used to retain it in the sash when the sword is drawn Kakinagasu: a groove on a cut-down sword which gradually narrows and disappears in the tang Kakitosu: a groove on a cut-down sword which continues off the end of the tang Kakudome: the squared end of a groove Kakuzukin: square-topped cloth cap Kama yari: "sicle" spear Kamasu: the name of a fish used to describe a straight cutting edge of the tip of a blade Kanagai: small and thin pieces of cut-metal foil Kanmuri: Japanese name for Tang-dynasty Chinese crown; see also token nari Kanmuri-ita: the vertical component of the uppermost plate on a shoulder guard Kanmuri-otoshi: blade with a ridge that passes through the tip Kanshitsu: "dried lacquer," cloth soaked in lacquer and covered over a wooden armature Kantei: the judgment or evaluation of an object by an expert or master Kanto tachi: swords with ring pommels Kao: a cursive monogram Kasane: thickness Kashira: see Fuchi-kashira Katabori: high-relief chiseling Katakiribori: carving with lines of varying thickness and depth in imitation of the strokes of a painter's brush Katakiriha chokuto: straight, single-edge blade flat on one side, ridged on the other side Kataochi gunome: gunome hamon with a distinctive slant Katana: a sword; in particular a sword of 2 shaku (60.6cm) or longer worn through the belt at the waist with the cutting edge up; frequently paired with a wakizashi as a daisho Katana-mei: signature cut into the side of a tang facing away from the wearer's body when the blade is slung cutting edge up Katte-sagari: slanted file marks on the tang Kawara kozane: "tile"-shape rectangular scales Kawari kabuto: exotic helmet, made fashionable in the Momoyama period Kawari nuri: a style of lacquering involving the use of several colors in a mottled pattern often used in decoration of scabbards Kawarigata tsuba: a sword guard (tsuba) of unusual shape Kawazu-ko: "tadpole shape" appled to choji hamon Kebori: thin engraved lines Ken: straight, double-edge blade based on Chinese prototypes; also a Buddhist sword, a physical manifestation of the power of Buddhism, usually seen emanating from a double thunderbolt (vajra) and frequently used as a symbol of the Five Wisdom Kings, Fudo Myoo being the best known Kengata-jiri: the end of a tang in the form of an isosceles triangle Kengyo: see Kengata Kesho-ita: narrow bands or struts at the bottoms of plates that are on the upper edges of shoulder, breast and back guards Kin: gold Kindei: gold powder mixed into lacquer Kinko: "gold craftsman," soft-metal-plate sword-guard maker Kinpun: gold powder Kinsuji: "golden lines," see inazuma and kinsen Kinzogan: gold inlay Kiri: Paulownia Imperialis, a tree with flowers and leaves adapted to form a crest of the imperial family Kiri: cut horizontally, referring to both file marks and the shortened end of a tang; see Kiri-jiri Kiri-ha: a blade section of chokuto with a wide shinogi-ji, hence a gently angled cutting edge Kiriha-zukuri chokuto: straight, single-edge sword with ridge parallel and next to cutting edge Kiri-jiri: horizontal form butt to the tang Kiri mon: a paulownia crest of two common types: go-san no kiri-mon using five- and three-bud stalks; shichi-go kiri-mon using seven- and five-bud stalks Kiritsuke: simulated by lacquer (kiritsuke kozane, kozane simulated by the application of lacquer to a solid plate) Kiritsuke zane: a plate cut and lacquered over in simulation of a row of kozane laced together Kiri-yasuri: horizontal file marks on a tang Kissaki: the triangular point of a sword Kissaki moroha-zukuri: double-edge-tip construction Kitae: forging pattern Kittsukezane; see Kiritsuke zane Ko: "old" or "small" Ko-choji: small clove pattern Kodachi: a short tachi made from the Kamakura period onwards, otherwise the word was used during the Edo period to describe wakizashi Kodogu: metal parts of a gaiso; usually referring to all metal fittings Koiguchi: Mouth of the scabbard or its fitting Kogai: hair pin, often matching a kozuka and carried in a slot in a sword scabbard on the opposite side from the wearer's body; see Wari-kogai Kogatana: small katana Ko-gunome: small gunome Ko-gusoku: "small pieces," of set of armor Ko-itame: small wood grain Ko-itame-hada: small wood grain forging pattern resembling pearskin Koji: section of helmet representing raised crest of hair on tokan-nari kabuto Kojiri: cap for the bottom of a scabbard, usually of metal or horn Ko-kissaki: small point Kokuho: a National Treasure Ko-maru: small rounded end of the tempering line in the point Komi (midare komi): continuation of a midare tempered edge into the point of a blade Ko-midare: small irregular tempering pattern Ko-nie: small and dense particles resembling snow Ko-notare: small wavy tempering pattern Konuka-hada: a finely textured surface which resembled the rice-flour face powder used by women; also known as nukame Koshi: lower edge Koshigatana: "waist sword," blade carried at the waist Koshirae: a complete sword mounting; see also Gaiso Koshizori: the curvature of a long sword where the height of the arc lies near the bottom half of the blade Kote: armored sleeves Koto: "old sword," those blades made before circa 1596 Kozane: small scales Kozuka: "small hilt," the auxiliary knife and its handle which is fitted into the outside wall of a katana scabbard Kui-chigaiha; Kuichigaiba: hamon that is not completely aligned so is overlapped Kuri-jiri: "chestnut tip," a rounded end to a tang Kurikara: a Buddhist motif of a dragon entwined around a Buddhist sword; often used as a decorative carving Kurikata: the cord ring on the scabbard Kusazuri: protective skirt suspended from the cuirass of armor Kuwagata: decorative horns Kuwagata-dai: side-horn holder Kuyo: a crest of 9 spheres Kyubi no ita: iron plate loosely suspended at the left breast on an o-yoroi armor Mabisashi: brim Machi: the notches at the juncture between the blade and the tang Machi-okuri: a sword in which the machi have been moved up slightly Maedate: forecrest Maki-e: "sprinkled picture," general term for lacquer, especially, decorated with gold powder Maru-dome: the rounded grant surface Maru-mune: rounded back of the blade Masame: Straight-grain forging pattern Masame hada: forging pattern resembling straight wood grain Matsukawa-hada: Forging pattern resembling the bark of a pine tree Mei: signature Meito: famous sword Mekugi: a wooden peg or metal rivet securing the tang within the hilt of the sword Mekugi-ana: hole in the tang through which a wooden peg or metal rivet is passed Menpo: face mask Menuki: decorative metal ornaments on each side of a sword hilt to enhance the grip Midare: an irregular meandering tempering pattern Midare-ba (midare hada): irregular waves in the tempering pattern Midare-komi: the continuation of an irregular meandering tempering line into the point Midare-utsuri: an irregular cloudy pattern in the jihada near the ridge-line: a distinctive feature of Bizen-style blades Migakiji: highly polished finish; technique used on sword fittings Mitsu-mune: a triple-bevelled back of a sword; usually found on early Soshu daggers Mitsu-tomoe: triple-comma motif Mokko: four-lobed, like a cross-section of a type of gourd Mokume hada: forging pattern resembling burl wood grain Momonari kabuto: peach-shaped helmet, the precursor to the exotic helmet (kawari kabuto) Mon: heraldic crest of a family Monouchi: "cutting part" about a quarter way along the blade from the point Moroha: double-edged Morohazukuri: configuration of a sword with two sharpened edges Moto: bottom of cutting edge Motohaba: width at start of tempered edge Mumei: unsigned Munaita: upper breast plate Mune: the back of a blade Muneyaki: tempering along the back of a blade Munemachi: the notch at the juncture of the back of a blade and the tang Muzori: without curvature, referring to a sword N.B.T.H.K.: Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), a Tokyo-based society that issues certificates of ranking on swords and fittings which have passed through a committee vetting; see Juyo token, Tokubetsu juyo token, etc. for blades and fittings Nagakawa: side pieces on armor Nagare-hada: a flowing grain in a sword blade Nagasa: The length of a blade measured as a direct line from the point to the notch on the back of the blade (munemachi) Naginata: a type of glaive with the shinogi extending to the point, the top half of the blade with a narrow back broadening into a normal shinogi below which are two characteristic naginata grooves Naginata-naoshi: a naginata blade converted to a sword Nakago: the tang of a sword blade Nakaguri wakidate: side crests with a cut-away center, resembling a crescent Nanako: "fish roe," a pattern of small raised dots made with a hollow punch on the plate of fittings Nanban: "southern barbarian," name for foreigners (Europeans who arrived by southern sea routes) and used to describe various domestic and export wares Naoshi: re-configured; for ex., naginata-naoshi is a naginata which has been shortened and mounted as a sword Nashiji: "pear skin," a lacquer surface of variegated gold lacquer created by layers of clear lacquer applied with gold powder Nashiji hada: a forging pattern resembling the skin of a pear Nie: shining particles in the tempering and forging areas of a blade that resemble crushed ice Niju-ha; Nijuba: a double tempering line, pattern Nimai do: "two-piece" cuirass, type of armor Nioi: a cloudy luminous effect in the hamon Nioi-guchi: fine particles of iron carbide on the boundary between the tempering pattern and ridge of the blade Nodowa: gorget, throat protector Notare: wavy or undulating tempering pattern in a sword blade Notare-ba: undulating pattern Notare-komi: a wavy undulating tempering pattern in the point Nunome-zogan: "cloth" inlay, gold or silver leaf burnished onto a cross-hatched iron ground like damascened metalwork O: "large," often a prefix for other descriptive terms, for ex. o-sode Obigane: encircling bands O-choji: "large clove," a very exaggerated choji hamon Odoshi: lacings of armor O-itame-hada: large wood-grain forging pattern O-kissaki: large point Okegawa do: "bucket-side cuirass," a cuirass made by riveting together horizontal plates to encircle the trunk O-midare: large midare O-mokume: large mokume Omote: the side of the blade facing away from the wearer's body when worn Origami: "folded paper," a written evaluation and statement of authenticity Oshigata: rubbing on thin paper, typically of a tang, in order to make a record of a signature etc. Oshitsuke: "to push out" Oshitsuke no ita: upper rear part of a cuirass (do) O-sode: large shoulder guards Osujigai: deeply sloping file marks O-suriage: tang cut down from its original length Ryo-hitsu: "both openings," the apertures either side of the central apertures of a sword guard through which the kogai and kozuka pass Sabiage: various powders, sometimes actual rust, mixed into lacquer to simulate the patina of age Sage: throat guard Sageo: cord Sahari: white metal alloy of copper, tin and lead Saihai: command baton with paper, leather or animal-hair streamers Saka: sloping; saka-choji is a pattern of sloping and irregular clove shapes Saka-gunome: sloping gunome Sakihaba: width before tip of blade Sakizori: a curvature that deepens toward the point of a blade Sanbon sugi gunome: "triple cryptomeria" pattern; a sawtooth tempering pattern with every third wave larger and more pointed Same: sharkskin or shagreen Sane; sane-ita: scales Sankaku yari: spear that is triangular in section Sankoken: a Buddhist ken sword with a three-pronged vajra hilt Saya: scabbard Sayagaki: inscription on the outside of a shirasaya Semegane: tachi scabbard ring Seita: back plate Sendan-no-ita: guard for the pit of the right arm, generally made of three plates or rows of scales connected by cords and backed with leather Seppa: thin brass, copper or gold washers often gilded or gold- and silver-plated, placed on either side of the sword guard when mounted on a sword blade Seppa-dai: "washer-platform," the central area of a sword guard around the nakago-ana covered by the washer Shakudo: alloy of approximately 95 copper and 5 gold with a raven-black patina Shibuichi: "one part in four," an alloy of copper with one part silver which patinates to a range of silver, grey and brown colors Shiho-jiro: arrangement of arrow shapes (shinodare) in groups of four sides of a helmet Shiinari kabuto: helmet with "sweet-acorn" (shiinari) shaped bowl Shikoro: neck guard; in compound words, jikoro Shimaba: a hamon with "islands" (shima) of activity Shingane: soft-core steel used in forging blades Shino: a splint Shinobi ana: an additional mekugi ana placed near the end of a sword tang Shinodare: type of riveted ornamentation of arrow shape Shino-suneate: splint shin guards Shinogi: longitudinal ridges on each side of a sword Shinogi-ji: ridge line of the blade Shinogi-zukuri: shape of a blade having a longitudinal ridge along either side and a transverse ridge at the tip; the most common shape of blade Shino-gote: splint sleeve guards Shinra-nari fukigaeshi: a style of fukigaeshi with the center of dyed leather surrounded by rows of hishi-nui, decorative cross-knotted braid Shinshinto: "new new sword," term referring to a renaissance in the late 18th century in which the ideals and quality of koto (old swords) could be recreated Shinto: "new sword," blades made after approximately 1595 Shirake: poorly defined utsuri exhibiting a white sheen Shirasaya: a natural-wood hilt and storage scabbard, usually of magnolia Shishiabori: sunken relief carving Shobuzukuri: a sword without yokote shaped like an iris leaf Sho-to: the smaller of the two swords in a daisho; a wakizashi Shumei: lacquer signature on a sword, usually applied by an appraiser Soebi: see soehi Sode: sleeve Soehi: a secondary narrow groove running below and parallel to a wide groove Somen: face mask covering the entire face Sori: curve, especially of a sword blade; "zori" when used as a suffix Suemon zogan: an inlay affixed to the surface of a sword fitting by means of a peg or pin Sugake-odoshi: parallel double rows of lacing at intervals Sugata: the components of the configuration of a sword Suguha: a straight tempering pattern that is parallel with the sword's edge Sugu yari: straight spear Suji: ridges Suji-bachi: ridged bowl Suji-kabuto: ridged helmet, replacement from around the start of the fourteenth century for hoshi-kabuto Sujigai: strongly slanted file marks on a tang Suken horimono: carving of a straight, double-edged ken-type sword Sumi-hada: patches of deep dark steel on a blade Sunagashi: "drifting sand," sweeping lines of nie within the hamon Suneate: shin guard Suso-ita: skirt plate, bottom metal plates of armor Suriage: a shortened sword blade with all or part of the original tang cut off Tachi: a long slung sword, over 2 shaku (60.6cm), worn with the cutting edge downwards Tachi-mei: signature on the side of the tang away from the wearer's body when the sword is worn slung cutting edge down Takabori: high-relief carving Takanoha: file marks on the tang resembling the pattern found on hawk feathers Takazogan: high-relief details in metalwork Tame-nuri: red-lacquer base with a lightener layer of lacquer over it Tataki-nuri: roughened surface, lacquer technique Tate-age: upper portion of a cuirass immediately below the muna-ita and oshitsuke no ita Tanto: a dagger Tawara-byo: "rice-bale rivets," a row of metal decorative pieces along the side of the hilt of a tachi, in ancient times rivets with heads in the shape of rice bales for securing the blade Tehen or tehen no ana: opening at the top of the helmet, originally for the wearer's hair; see also Hachiman-za Tehen kanamono: ring of soft-metal bands surrounding the opening at the top of the helmet (tehen) Tekko: hand cover Tentsuki: "reaching for heaven," upward-reaching long leaf-like pieces forming a crest on a helmet Tobiyaki: "jumping heat treatment," well-defined areas of nioi or nie above the hamon Togari: pointed; point Togariba: (togari gunome): strongly pointed tempered edge Tokan nari kabuto: "Chinese crown," a type of helmet with high crown and raised flaps modeled on a crown of the Tang dynasty Tokubetsu juyo token: "Especially valuable sword," a ranking above Juyo token given by the N.B.T.H.K. Tokubetsu kicho token: "Especially valuable sword," a ranking given a sword by the N.B.T.H.K. Toran-ba: a billowing hamon like sea waves Toriizori: an even regular curve in a sword, like the top of a Shinto gate (torii) Tsuba: sword guard Tsugi-age: a sharply pointed tempering pattern to the point Tsuka: hilt or handle of a sword Tsumadori: style of armor lacing with separate colors that make triangular patterns at edges of shoulder guards (sode) and skirt (kusazuri) Tsume: claws Tsunomoto: bracket for forecrest (maedate) Tsutsu suneate: leg guards Tsutsu gote: a sleeve with hinged or sewn-together plates over the forearm Ubu: original condition, for ex. ubu nakago, an unshortened and original tang on a sword blade Uchidashi: embossed Uchigatana: "striking sword," a sword around 60cm common in the Muromachi period Uchinoke: short nijuba resembling a crescent moon Uchiwa: round fan Uchizori: blade with mostly straight back and cutting edge curving slightly toward top Unokubi: "cormorant's neck," shape of a tanto blade with a high shinogi extending to the point and a yokote Ura: the side of a sword worn next to the wearer's body Uragawara: a narrow strip across the mouth of the kozuka slot in a sword scabbard Ushirodate: rear crest Utsuri: a faint cloudy pattern in a sword blade often like a reflection of the tempering pattern as it is parallel to the hamon Vajra: thunderbolt; Hindu and Buddhist implement and symbol Waidate: right-side protector of armor Wakidate: side crests Waki ita: side plates Wakizashi: the shorter of the two swords (30-60cm long) comprising a daisho worn by a samurai Wari-kogai: a divided kogai which could be used as chopsticks Watagami: shoulder straps on armor Yagenbori: triangular-cut chiseling Yaki dashi: a straight tempering pattern near the hamachi Yakiba: "baked edge," the hardened strip along the edge of a sword blade produced by quenching Yakiotoshi: the hamon begins just short (usually 2-3cm) from the hamachi Yakitsune: Temperline on tip with no turnback Yamagane: "mountain metal," natural unrefined copper Yari: spear of a single point (futamato yari, 2 points; mitsumoto yari, 3 points); see Jumonji yari Yasurime: file marks on the tang Yo: leaf-shaped trails in isolated spots of tempering; see ashi Yodarekake: throat guard Yokohagi: horizontal plates riveted together, as in yokohagi do Yokote: line separating the point from the main part of the sword Yoroi: type of armor worn by high-ranking samurai from around the Heian period through early Muromachi period, usually comprised of a cuirass (do), a protective skirt (kusazuri), right-side protector (waidate), breast plates, neck and shoulder guards and helmet; larger than armor worn by foot soldiers, they are also known as o-yoroi ("great" armors) and designed for mounted archers Yoroidoshi: armor-piercing blade Zanguri: coarse pear Zanguri hada: coarse "pear skin" Zogan: inlay Zudate: upright headpiece Zukin: cloth cap Zukuri (tsukuri): construction, make Zunari kabuto: "head-shaped" (zunari) helmet VARIOUS PROPERTIES
A Haniwa Terracotta Figure of a Seated Warrior

LATE KOFUN PERIOD (6TH CENTURY)

Details
A Haniwa Terracotta Figure of a Seated Warrior
Late Kofun period (6th century)
Seated on an oblong, high plinth pierced with two circular apertures at the sides, the feet resting on an extended foot rest, the left hand resting on a sword in scabbard slung from the waistband of the leather belt represented, tied in an x-shaped knot at the right and hung with a pouch in the left front, the right hand resting at the right waist above the skirt; the head applied with two long plaits of hair and crowned with a cup-shaped cap
29¼in. (74.2cm.) high
The result of Oxford Authentication Thermoluminescence Analysis Report no. N102d21 is consistent with the dating of this lot.

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Lot Essay


Haniwa, "clay ring," take their name from the unglazed clay cylinders placed on the large tomb mounds of the Japanese elite beginning in the fourth century. The tubular bases were sunk into the ground for stability. In the succeeding centuries, potters of the cylinders expanded into sculptures of humans, animals and household objects. The haniwa were fashioned by the coil and slab technique, smoothed with a bamboo comb and finished with a bamboo knife or spatula, then dried or fired at a low temperature, which resulted in their warm buff or reddish color.

For a similar figure from Kameyama, Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture, see Miki Fumio, ed., Haniwa, Nihon no bijutsu (Arts of Japan) 19 (Tokyo: Shibundo, 1967), no. 61 and Miki Fumio, ed., Haniwa/Clay Figures (Tokyo: Kodansha, n.d. [ca. 1967--68]), no. 41.

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