Lot Essay
The half-coat and chest protector were worn by firemen. They were made of expensive cloth which was thick and sturdy enough to protect against fire. They were also worn during practice shooting.
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EDO PERIOD (EARLY 18TH CENTURY)
Details
A FINE AND RARE GROUP OF SATSUMA JINBAORI AND FIREMENS' OUTFITS IN A ROBE BOX
Edo Period (Early 18th Century)
A JINBAORI of red felt, the armholes cut with an extended point, a maru juji mon [a cross in a circle: the Shimazu family crest] to the front and back applied in black cloth, the lining of yellow, pale green, pink and gold brocade with stylised flowerheads and foliage, some stains and wear
A JINBAORI, the outer cloth depicting a dragon emerging from the sea with gold Shimazu mon in purple, blue, white, black, green, orange and gold brocade, the armholes cut with a shallow curve, the facing of orange and gold brocade with flowerheads and scrolling foliage and Shimazu mon fastened by metal Shimazu mon buttons and cords, the lining in a similar cloth
A FIREMAN'S OUTFIT of a purple and white Dutch felt with a Shimazu mon in white on the front, back and sleeves, the lining of white and gold brocade with stylized dragons and various motifs and a matching chest protector and belt
A FIREMAN'S OUTFIT of yellow Dutch felt with a Shimazu mon in black on the front, back and sleeves, the takanoha uchiwa [hawk's feathers on fan] mon to the back, the lining of blue brocade with various characters and trees and a matching chest protector
A FIRE CAPE FOR ATTACHING A KAJI-ZUKIN [fire-viewing helmet], of yellow 'Dutch cloth' overlaid with black Shimazu mon and a matching chest protector and belt
A YOROI HITATARE woven in white with a sansuzume [three sparrows] mon on a purple kikko pattern, with purple, white and orange tassels, some soiling overall
A DECORATIVE LOINCLOTH in gold, white, green and red brocade with a karashishi among flowers on red felt, with a shippo-tsunagi pattern and a white band beneath, with a gold fringe
A LARGE LACQUER HASAMIBAKO decorated in gold hiramakie and nashiji on a roiro-nuri ground with Shimazu mon on a ground of scrolling foliage, the elaborate copper-gilt fittings engraved with scrolling foliage
A RED WOOL COVER with a Shimazu mon in white
40in. (101.6cm.) long, 38in. (96.5cm.) long, 45in. (114.3cm.) long, 46in. (116.8cm.) long, 34in. (87.6cm.) long, the hitatare 35.7/8in. (91cm.) long, the hakama 38in. (97cm.) long, 30in. (76.2cm.) long and 23.7/8 x 15 x 16.7/8in. (60.2 x 38.1 x 42.8cm.) respectively (14)
Edo Period (Early 18th Century)
A JINBAORI of red felt, the armholes cut with an extended point, a maru juji mon [a cross in a circle: the Shimazu family crest] to the front and back applied in black cloth, the lining of yellow, pale green, pink and gold brocade with stylised flowerheads and foliage, some stains and wear
A JINBAORI, the outer cloth depicting a dragon emerging from the sea with gold Shimazu mon in purple, blue, white, black, green, orange and gold brocade, the armholes cut with a shallow curve, the facing of orange and gold brocade with flowerheads and scrolling foliage and Shimazu mon fastened by metal Shimazu mon buttons and cords, the lining in a similar cloth
A FIREMAN'S OUTFIT of a purple and white Dutch felt with a Shimazu mon in white on the front, back and sleeves, the lining of white and gold brocade with stylized dragons and various motifs and a matching chest protector and belt
A FIREMAN'S OUTFIT of yellow Dutch felt with a Shimazu mon in black on the front, back and sleeves, the takanoha uchiwa [hawk's feathers on fan] mon to the back, the lining of blue brocade with various characters and trees and a matching chest protector
A FIRE CAPE FOR ATTACHING A KAJI-ZUKIN [fire-viewing helmet], of yellow 'Dutch cloth' overlaid with black Shimazu mon and a matching chest protector and belt
A YOROI HITATARE woven in white with a sansuzume [three sparrows] mon on a purple kikko pattern, with purple, white and orange tassels, some soiling overall
A DECORATIVE LOINCLOTH in gold, white, green and red brocade with a karashishi among flowers on red felt, with a shippo-tsunagi pattern and a white band beneath, with a gold fringe
A LARGE LACQUER HASAMIBAKO decorated in gold hiramakie and nashiji on a roiro-nuri ground with Shimazu mon on a ground of scrolling foliage, the elaborate copper-gilt fittings engraved with scrolling foliage
A RED WOOL COVER with a Shimazu mon in white
40in. (101.6cm.) long, 38in. (96.5cm.) long, 45in. (114.3cm.) long, 46in. (116.8cm.) long, 34in. (87.6cm.) long, the hitatare 35.7/8in. (91cm.) long, the hakama 38in. (97cm.) long, 30in. (76.2cm.) long and 23.7/8 x 15 x 16.7/8in. (60.2 x 38.1 x 42.8cm.) respectively (14)
Literature
For a similar piece see Shigeo Sugawa, The Japanese Matchlock:The Story of the Tanegashima (Tokyo, 1991), pp.49, 55.