Meiji Era charger with samurai ‘police’

This rare and finely detailed Kutani charger from the Meiji period (1868-1912) shows a samurai, tasked with catching criminals, writing on an official signboard with an ink brush. The notice on the wooden board, probably for a wanted criminal, is being dictated by a higher-ranked warrior, possibly a provincial daimyo lord, who is holding a fan.

Directly behind the kneeling samurai, who carries a sheathed katana sword, are fearsome instruments of law enforcement used in feudal Japan. Three of the weapons were for apprehending armed criminals. The sasumata forked pike trapped the neck or limbs. The tsukubo (‘push pole’) looks like a barbed rake, while the sodegarami pole with curved barbed talons was a ‘sleeve entangler.’ Recognisable too are the otsuchi giant wooden mallet used for breaking down doors, a kama or scythe-like weapon, and a saw for the most terrible form of decapitation. The sasumata and tsukubo were often paraded in street processions of condemned prisoners on their way to execution. An inkwell can be seen on the ground beside the signboard.

The higher-ranked warrior is seated – presumably on a folding stool – at the foot of a blossoming tree. Protruding from his back is a yebira quiver of arrows and he is clutching either a gunsen or tessen ‘war fan.’

During the Edo period (1603-1867) Japan was a warrior state headed by hereditary shoguns, and samurai were charged with maintaining law and order.

The superb hand-enamelling and gilding of the two warriors is complemented by a border decoration of elaborate kimono brocades.

The base of the charger has the two characters for Kaga, written right to left, and underneath, Kutani-sei (Kutani product), written vertically. Kaga was an ancient province on the Japan Sea coast where Kutani Ware originated. In the early years of the Meiji Period (1868-1912), Kaga was absorbed into the new prefectures of Ishikawa and Toyama.

CONDITION Very good. No damage, repairs or restoration. Some light rubbing and surface abrasions.

Diameter: 35.6 cm / 14.1 inches
Net weight: 2,026 g

The packed weight is over 3 kgs. Prior to purchase, customers outside the UK should contact us with a delivery address to obtain a DHL shipment quote.