Page 296 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

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of the cherry trees begin at the bottom of large reed stalks in gold takamaki-e (relief
both legs of the saddle, while their maki-e) lacquer and sheet gold on a black
branches then arch toward the center, par- lacquer ground; silver drops of dew cling
alleling the saddle's curved shape and cre- to the reeds. The two wheels are rimmed
ate a symmetrical design. The branches on with gold. The stirrups, of black lacquered
both legs are adorned with cherry blos- wood mounted on iron, are similarly deco-
soms, leaves, and tiny ferns growing along rated with reeds.
the tree's trunk. Even the seat of the sad- This saddle is said to have belonged to
dle, which would have been covered by a Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598). An ink
saddlecloth, is decorated with a delicate drawing of the saddle is inscribed, Middle
design of scattered leaves and sprays of of the first month, fifth year ofTenshd
blossoms. Roots and tree trunks are filled [1577], Hideyoshi [kaó]. However, on the re-
in with full pieces of shell, while most of verse of the saddle seat is an inscription
the flower petals are delicately outlined that reads, A day in the ninth month, sec-
with a thin line of shell. The stylized treat- ond year ofBurian [1446], indicating that
ment of natural motifs such as these this was an old saddle newly decorated in
cherry blossoms is characteristic Kama- 1577. SN
kura-period arts and crafts. The intricacy
and complexity of the cherry blossom de- 220 Saddle and stirrups
sign is comparable to that of the shigure maki-e lacquer and gold on wood
saddle (cat. 217), suggesting that both sad- 27.8(101/4)
dles were created during the same period. Edo period, i7th-i8th century
This saddle formerly belonged to the
Asano family, overlords of Aki Province Tokyo National Museum
(present-day Hiroshima Prefecture). MR
The front and back wheels are decorated
with a plum tree and hawk design in
219 Saddle and stirrups takamaki-e (relief maki-e) lacquer and cut
maki-e and black lacquer, gold and gold leaf on a pear-skin ground (nashiji);
silver on wood the hawks' eyes are glass. An inscription
saddle 27.5 (io7/s) on the reverse of the saddle seat reads,
Momoyama period, loth century Tenth day of the second month, seventh
year ofMeid [1498]. As seen in cat. 219, and
Tokyo National Museum as was often the case in the Edo period, an
Important Cultural Property old saddle was newly decorated. SN
The bold decoration on the front and
back wheels of this saddle is typical of
Momoyama-period design. It consists of

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