A fine umiari suikan-gura [riding saddle with double register pommel] and a pair of abumi [stirrups] | Muromachi period, 16th century | The lacquer decoration Edo period, 19th century

A fine umiari suikan-gura [riding saddle with double register pommel] and a pair of abumi [stirrups] 

Muromachi period, 16^th century 

The lacquer decoration Edo period, 19^th century 

the riding saddle fitted with two lacquered igi [wood side boards], maewa [pommel] and shizuwa [cantle] of yamagata [highly-seated; 'mountain-shaped'] form, the pommel with the two umi ['sea'] and iso ['shore'] registers almost evenly constructed, low-shouldered tegata [hand-shaped] indentations carved to each side, the seat decorated in mura-nashiji on a black lacquer ground, the maewa and shizuwa bioth decorated in gold, silver, black, blue and red hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, keuchi, gold and silver leaf on a nashiji ground, with a karashishi among blooming peonies, inset eyes, the pair of lacquered iron abumi similarly decorated, mura-nashiji interiors, with a fitted wood storage box and leather saddle pads and iron horse bit

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], no. 448 issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Society for the Preservation of Japanese Armour], dated Heisei 11 (1999).

37.6 cm., 14¾ in. long (the kura)

each 30 cm., 11⅞ in. long (the abumi)