A Saddle (Kura), Stirrups (Abumi) and Snaffle Bit (Kutsuwa)

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY), THE SADDLE INSCRIBED AND DATED IN INK KITO YOSHITATSU ENPO YONEN HINOE TATSU TOSHI (WINTER, 1676) AND FU AND WITH KAO (CURSIVE MONOGRAM), THE STIRRUPS SIGNED KASHU JU NAGATSUGU SAKU, THE SNAFFLE BIT SIGNED FUJIWARA KIYOFUMI

Details

A Saddle (Kura), Stirrups (Abumi) and Snaffle Bit (Kutsuwa)
Edo period (18th century), the saddle inscribed and dated in ink Kito Yoshitatsu Enpo yonen hinoe tatsu toshi (winter, 1676) and Fu and with kao (cursive monogram), the stirrups signed Kashu ju Nagatsugu saku, the snaffle bit signed Fujiwara Kiyofumi
The saddle decorated in gold takamaki-e and hiramaki-e on a black-lacquer ground with scenes of Matsushima and arrow tail-feathers decorated with svastikah (manji) crests on the front and back, the inside nashiji; fitted with four leather straps holding shihode (circular metal plates) carved with Buddhist deities on the reverse; the shitagura (saddle cloth), kurashiki (saddle flaps) and stirrup leather decorated in matching chevron patterns on a blue ground, the aori (inner saddle cloth) designed with embossed and gilded crests on a white ground; the iron stirrups decorated in flush silver inlay with cherry blossoms on a stream, lattice pattern and geometric designs; with additional tasseled straps and an iron kutsuwa (snaffle bit); lacquered-leather storage box

Lot Essay

The family crest composed of a svastikah (Jap. manji) on a band of arrow tail-feathers has been associated with Hasekura Tsunenaga (1571-1622), a retainer of Date Masamune (1567-1637). On behalf of Masamune, Hasekura lead an expedition to Mexico and Europe in 1613 to encourage trade. While in Spain in 1614, Hasekura was baptized a Christian and later was granted an audience with Pope Paul V. The design on this saddle is of Matsushima, one of Japan's three most-celebrated places of beauty, located near Sendai, the ancestral home of the Date family.

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