THE PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN GENTLEMAN

A Yamato utsubo (quiver)
Edo period (18th century)
The highly decorative (utsubo) quiver is of wood lacquered black with dragons among clouds in red, gold, silver and other color takamakie (high relief lacquer), the central waist portion with a band of lacquered leather, and the removable cover at the bottom held in place by faded purple braid. The traditional open ebira - type quiver was carried on the back with the arrowheads downwards and the arrows and flights clearly visible. The otsubo type is said to have been developed in order to conceal the number of arrows held from an enemy. They were carried on the back with the arrow flights resting on an internal bamboo raft. Lacquered examples such luxurious piece are known as Yamato utsubo as opposed to leather-clad and woven rattan examples.