A SUPERBLY DECORATED MATCHLOCK GUN, the russet iron octagonal barrel fitted with a set sight on the peep line and a bar sight on the flared muzzle which also bears five gilt applied Tokugawa aoimon, the upper part of the barrel decorated in shakudo and silvered and gilt copper with two celestial dragons among lightning flashes and thunderclouds pursuing a golden jewel, the breech area formed as a waterfall in iron takabori and silver takazogan, with silver blossom trees beside the water and a large terrapin at its base, and with three applied figures of rakan standing nearby, in shakudo with gilt detail, the whole interspersed with silver blossoms and copper maple leaves, the breech retaining band of silver carved as breaking waves, signed Kunitomo Heiji Shigetoshi, working in Omi, and dated March 1820, the one-piece wood stock bearing fourteen Tokugawa aoimon in gold hiramakie, with a further seven on the butt, overall length 104.3 cm., with muranashiji fitted box also bearing numerous Tokugawa aoimon, (old damage), late 19th century

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A SUPERBLY DECORATED MATCHLOCK GUN, the russet iron octagonal barrel fitted with a set sight on the peep line and a bar sight on the flared muzzle which also bears five gilt applied Tokugawa aoimon, the upper part of the barrel decorated in shakudo and silvered and gilt copper with two celestial dragons among lightning flashes and thunderclouds pursuing a golden jewel, the breech area formed as a waterfall in iron takabori and silver takazogan, with silver blossom trees beside the water and a large terrapin at its base, and with three applied figures of rakan standing nearby, in shakudo with gilt detail, the whole interspersed with silver blossoms and copper maple leaves, the breech retaining band of silver carved as breaking waves, signed Kunitomo Heiji Shigetoshi, working in Omi, and dated March 1820, the one-piece wood stock bearing fourteen Tokugawa aoimon in gold hiramakie, with a further seven on the butt, overall length 104.3 cm., with muranashiji fitted box also bearing numerous Tokugawa aoimon, (old damage), late 19th century

Lot Essay

This is one of the most remarkable examples of the Japanese matchlock gun, or arquebus, yet seen, and the large number of Tokugawa aoimon which it bears suggests that it may have been a shogunal gift.

Firearms were introduced to Japan almost by accident when, in 1543, a Portuguese ship was driven by a storm to the island of Tanegashima, where its captain was well received by the island's Japanese governor, and gave him, or traded with him, some matchlock guns the ship was carrying.

On seeing this new weapon demonstrated, with its ability to penetrate much of the contemporary Japanese armour, armourers tried their skill at forging barrels, and after some early failures in fitting a satisfactory breech-plug, and in producing a spring for the matchholder, Japanese guns were finally made and began to make their mark in warfare. Armourers began also to experiment with new forms of iron plate to find some way of withstanding the heavy matchlock musket ball. By October 1600, when the greatest battle in Japanese history took place at Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu's massed ranks of matchlock men did much to carry the day for him and to ensure the defeat of the house of Toyotomi.

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