The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 33. A fine umiari suikan-gura [riding saddle with double register pommel] Signed Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa saku (made by Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa) and with kao Muromachi period, dated Kanoto hitsuji sangatsu hi (a day in March 1451).

A fine umiari suikan-gura [riding saddle with double register pommel] Signed Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa saku (made by Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa) and with kao Muromachi period, dated Kanoto hitsuji sangatsu hi (a day in March 1451)

VAT reduced rateUK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Lot Closed

November 2, 02:34 PM GMT

Estimate

30,000 - 40,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

A fine umiari suikan-gura [riding saddle with double register pommel]

Signed Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa saku (made by Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa) and with kao

Muromachi period, dated Kanoto hitsuji sangatsu hi (a day in March 1451)

the riding saddle fitted with two lacquered igi [wood side boards], maewa [pommel] and shizuwa [cantle] of yamagata [highly-seated; 'mountain-shaped'] form, the pommel with the two umi ['sea'] and iso ['shore'] registers almost evenly constructed, low-shouldered tegata [hand-shaped] indentations carved to each side, the seat decorated overall in polished black lacquer, the maewa and shizuwa each decorated in black, brown and gold hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with a tachi, its long koshirae with stylised metal fittings and a mokko-gata tsuba, the underside incised with jujimon [cross-shaped crests], fitted wood storage box

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Society for the Preservation of Japanese Armour], dated Heisei 24 (2012).

38.5 cm., 15⅛ in. long

Ise Suruga no kami Sadamasa is purported to have been one of the highest ranking saddle makers during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). Stemming from a line of workers relating to the equestrian arts, the Ise family is said to have studied under the founder of the Otsubo school, Otsubo Yoshihide (1324-1407), and developed their own method of making saddle stirrups that were eventually adopted by the Muromachi shogunate. Recognising the artistic and exceptional quality of these lacquered wares, such saddles made by the Ise have often been referred to as 'saku no kura', which can roughly be translated as saddles of accomplished workmanship.