Title: Lobster and Dragon
Description
This item is an antique Yatate (矢立て). Its metal surface has been worn down due to aging, but the carvings of a spiny lobster and a dragon add decorativeness to this work.
There are two types of Yatates. The one is that it is a tool for inserting arrows. Its use could be thought of in the same way as the Ebira (箙, quiver). The other use of Yatate is a set of portable writing utensils that combines a brush and an ink pot. Materials include metal, ceramic, bamboo, and wood. It is a writing instrument from the Edo period with a tube for holding an ink pot into the brush. During the Kamakura period, people carried a small inkstone and a brush inside their quiver in preparation for writing on the battlefields, and this inkstone was called the Yatate-no Suzuri (矢立ての硯, 硯 is an inkstone),” which is why the set of portable writing utensils came to be called the Yatate.
This Yatate is a ladle-shaped ink pot with a tube for an attached brush. This type of Yatate looks similar to a smoking pipe at first glance. It was sturdy, had a good grip, and did not attract suspicion when carried around, so pens equipped with needles and blades were also helpful as concealed weapons for self-defense.
On the ink pot, a spiny lobster (伊勢海老, Ise Ebi) is elaborately decorated. It is said that lobsters have been considered a symbol of health and longevity and immortality since its name consists of 海 (sea) and 老(elderly, aged) when written in Kanji, or they have long whiskers and curved waist. Also, the shape of lobsters has been associated with a Samurai in armor and favored by Samurai worriers as a good luck charm. In addition, boiled lobsters are considered auspicious because of their brilliant vermilion color, so they have also been used in a traditional New Year’s decoration for a long time.
On the tube, a dragon (龍, Ryu) is also designed. Initially, the dragon is an imaginary creature found in ancient Chinese traditions or myths. Furthermore, it is regarded as a symbolic beast of auspicious signs. Its body is likened to nine animals: antlers are deer, the head is a camel, eyes are demons, the neck is a snake, belly is Mizuchi (蛟, mythical animal in Japan which looks like a snake and have a horn and four legs), scales are fish, claws are falcons, palms are tigers, and ears are cows. It was thought that the dragon would reign at the top of all animals because of its odd-looking appearance. In ancient China, the dragon pattern was used for emperors’ clothing so that people strictly defined its shape or even the number of nails. On the other hand, the dragon pattern does not have detailed rules to represent classes in Japan. However, still, it maintains its meaning as the all-purpose auspicious pattern.
*As this item is an antique, please check each photo and ensure its condition.
【About us】
Samurai Museum is located in Tokyo, Japan, exhibiting antique artifacts related to the Samurai history. Samurai Museum Shop is the place for those who are interested in Japanese culture and craftsmanship. We deal with antique Samurai swords/armor, traditional crafts made in Japan and so on.
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【Shipping duration】
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【How to make sure the condition】
Please keep in mind that what you are going to purchase is an antique item. We uploaded high resolution photos for you to check its condition thoroughly. If you like to see more photos with different angles, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to send them to you so that you can make informed decision.
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