Set of Gilded Tachi Fittings

Early set of gold gilded tachi fittings or tokin tachi kanagu (鍍金太刀金具). Very rare set of matched tachi fittings from the Sengoku period. These items were utilized on a high-class, functional tachi koshirae of the Sengoku period, and offer rare insight into the style and classic construction techniques.The base metal is yamagane which is then gold gilded with a technique termed keshi-tokin (消し鍍金) which involves mixing an amalgum of mercury with gold powder, coating a surface and then heating until the mercury evaporates, leaving the surface gold gilded. 

Both ko-seppa (小切羽) and one ō-seppa (大切羽) are preserved.  The ō-seppa is slightly cupped, and interestingly, the yamagane has been folded and hammered together, as evidenced by separations seen on the back surface. The front side has been striated with vertical scratches, as was the fashion at the time, and to permit superior adhesion of gilt, as well as protective lacquer.

The ashi-kanamono (足金物) hangers are still attached to the leather remnants of the suspension system or obitori (帯執). The leather obitori retains its original deep blue indigo dye.  Each hanger is footed by 4 stacked ornamented risers.  Interestingly the hanger pieces are affixed to the rings in offset positions. This feature is very rare and only seen in some early koshirae.  It is thought that this geometry permitted to tachi to lay more naturally against the hip protection or kusazuri (草摺) of the armor.  One kawasaki-gane (革先金), or decorative metal end-cap on the obitori leather suspension loop remains.  Also preserved is the semegane (責金) ring from the lower end of the saya.

This set was exhibited and included in the catalogue organized by Yamanashi Prefecture in 1988. The exhibition featured a variety of national treasures and important cultural property-class relics of the Takeda clan, specifically items belonging personally to Takeda Shingen (1521 - 1573), his family and generals, as well as other notable comtemporary daimyo that factored into the Takeda story.

The set comes in a large custom box with a unique retention system to prevent the items from scattering.

Published: Exhibition of Lord Takeda Shingen and Warlords of the Sengoku Period (Takeda Shingen-kō to Sengoku Bushō Ten 武田信玄公と戦国武将展), by Yamanashi Prefecture. 1988.  

Late Muromachi period (室町時代) 16th c.

$3,200