"Kura Bane" samurai saddle. Japan, 17th century. Edo period

“Kura Bane” samurai saddle, wagura style. Japan, 17th century. Edo period.
Lacquered Japanese oak (kashi) with mother-of-pearl inlays (raden aogai), leather, iron, silver, and textile elements.
Inscription on the underside of the saddle, dated the eighth day of the eleventh month of 1668.
Signed stirrups, made in Kanazawa, Kaga Province.
Provenance: important private collection, Brussels (Belgium).
In good overall condition.
Measurements: 83 x 61 x 65 cm.

This set of Japanese equestrian tack, dated 1668, is an outstanding example of the technical and ornamental sophistication achieved during the Edo period. The saddle, of the wagura type, features a lacquered Japanese oak frame, lavishly decorated with mother-of-pearl inlays (raden aogai-nashiji). Notable are the shell motifs adorning its ends, traditionally associated with good fortune and protection against evil influences.

The frame, known as kura-bane, consists of four elements: the front (maewa) and rear (shizuwa) arches, joined by two side pieces (igi) through mortise-and-tenon joints and cordage that provide flexibility to the entire structure. Notable are the leather guards (aori), decorated with gilded plant motifs and heraldic emblems (mon). The harness is completed by straps, textile tassels, a bamboo riding crop (muchi), and iron stirrups (abumi) with silver detailing and mother-of-pearl inlays on the inside, crafted by a workshop in Kanazawa, in Kaga Province.

These saddles were crafted in specialized workshops, notably the Ise school, one of the oldest traditions of Japanese saddlery. During the Edo period, samurai saddles also took on a symbolic significance, serving as emblems of rank and social prestige. Similar examples are preserved in the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection in Dallas, the Stibbert Museum in Florence, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.