Japanese Works of Art - 21st May 2019
Lot 242
A JAPANESE FIREMAN'S COAT
Estimate £300 - £500 | Hammer £650
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Description
A JAPANESE FIREMAN'S COAT, HIKESHI BANTEN
MEIJI 1868-1912
The reversible garment made of quilted cotton cloth, sashiko, one side with the family crest for the Minamoto clan of three gentian flowers and bamboo leaves, rindou mon, on a deep indigo ground, the other side with freehand paste-resist decoration, tsutsugaki, depicting a man and a tiger, possibly Kato Kiyomasa, 122cm.
Kato Kiyomasa (1562-1611) was a daimyo famous for his successful campaigns against Joseon in Korea. He is often represented practising his hobby of hunting tigers.
Cf. The Denver Art Museum, access. no.1999.265 for a comparable fireman's jacket decorated with a mythical scene also suggesting a parallel between the legendary hero and the fireman's courage and agility.