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1901.46.1.30

Flag on a bamboo staff, part of complete suit of Japanese armour. [El.B 4/4/2007]

On display

1901.46.1.30

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Collection type
Object
Description
Flag on a bamboo staff, part of complete suit of Japanese armour. [El.B 4/4/2007]
Long description
The flag is of white textile with a red circle painted in the centre which has then been painted over in gold. The staff has black bands painted on it. [El.B 4/4/2007]
Geographical reference
Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Cultural groups
Japanese
Person
Field collector Henry Martin Gibbs
PRM source Henry Martin Gibbs
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1901
Date collected
By 1901
Acquisition information
Donated: 1901
Materials and processes
Material Bamboo Plant, Material Textile, Material Pigment, Process Stitched, Process Painted
Object numbers
Accession number: 1901.46.1.30
Research and responses

The following notes are drawn from research compiled by Andy Mills as part of the DCF Cutting Edge project in 2006-2007. This is a very full suit of highly ornate, and archaistic, armour from the Tokugawa Period. It is either a Presentation Armour for diplomatic gifting between high-ranking individuals, or the Parade Armour of a daimyo, one of his close relatives, or a high-ranking samurai retainer.

The banner (sashimono) of white silk bearing a gold circle, depicts the Buddhist halo (kohai) - commonly seen in Japanese art – and indicates the presence of deity. It is, however, the insignia of this particular bushi. Sashimono developed as identification insignia between 1550-1575 (see The Armour Book in Honcho-Gunkiko , by H. Arai, published 1964. p.83), in response to accidental killings of allies on the battlefield, which itself resulted from the increased use of face-masks (men-yoroi). [SM 08/05/2008]

From the diary (in a private collection) of Arthur Heathcote, who accompanied Henry Martin Gibbs to Peru in 1873: Just before we left Lima Gibbs had offered to him for sale a most curious suit of armour, which on finding that the owner was a gentleman in every way reliable who had been for many years in Japan he bought. It is said to be very rare & certainly most curious, I should much like you to see it & perhaps if you go to Tyntesfield after we get back, you may. The Chinese & Japanese are very numerous in Lima & one can get very pretty things in their shops - but (like everything else in Lima) they are very expensive.

Associated publications
Illustrated in colour on page 41 of Pitt Rivers Museum: An Introduction, by Julia Cousins (Oxford: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, 2004). Caption (same page) reads: 'Complete suit of decorative Samurai armour; made in Japan in the late nineteenth century.' [JC 8 10 2004]

Search terms: Armour Weapon, Insignia, Armour, Flag, Staff

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