Rare Hand painted Samurai Nobori Banner or Wallhanging with Tiger: C19th Meiji Period, Japan
An extraordinary find! A rare antique Meji period handpainted Samurai Nobori banner or flag probably made for a celebration rather than battle, the last photograph shows how they were held on bamboo poles.
The banner has been skillfully handpainted and stencilled with a superb striped tiger, an auspicious symbol of power and strength.
The red seal stamp marks this as authentic Samuri. This red seal (known in Japanese as a hanko or inkan) on a samurai banner is a traditional personal stamp used as a formal signature.
The seal is written in tensho (seal script), an ancient and stylized form of calligraphy often used for official stamps which is the standard purpose for hanko on historical artifacts.
On a samurai banner (nobori or sashimono), such seals were used to prove the banner was an official military piece authorized by a specific commander or daimyo. This acts as a mark of the high-ranking individual who owned the equipment.
Measurements:
461 x 97cm
Condition:
In used antique condition with an overall patina of age commensurate with age.