[av_heading heading=’The art of the samurai comes to Sworders Nov. 2′ tag=’h1′ style=” subheading_active=” show_icon=” icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ size=” av-desktop-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” subheading_size=” av-desktop-font-size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” icon_size=” av-desktop-font-size-1=” av-medium-font-size-1=” av-small-font-size-1=” av-mini-font-size-1=” color=” custom_font=” subheading_color=” seperator_color=” icon_color=” margin=’,,35px,’ av-desktop-margin=” av-desktop-margin_sync=’true’ av-medium-margin=” av-medium-margin_sync=’true’ av-small-margin=’,,20px,’ av-mini-margin=” av-mini-margin_sync=’true’ headline_padding=” headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-desktop-headline_padding=” av-desktop-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-medium-headline_padding=” av-medium-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-small-headline_padding=” av-small-headline_padding_sync=’true’ av-mini-headline_padding=” av-mini-headline_padding_sync=’true’ padding=’10’ av-desktop-padding=” av-medium-padding=” av-small-padding=” av-mini-padding=” icon_padding=’10’ av-desktop-icon_padding=” av-medium-icon_padding=” av-small-icon_padding=” av-mini-icon_padding=” link=” link_target=” title_attr=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-lnoft1sg’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]

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STANSTED MOUNTFITCHET, UK – The art of the samurai comes to Sworders on Thursday, November 2. As part of the Essex firm’s autumn Asian art offering, a total of 150 lots of Japanese arms and armor will be sold for the family of the late Peter Raymond Dennison.

A former marine mechanic with a deep interest in historical warfare, Dennison was a collector of Edo and Meiji period weaponry for many years and was a well-known face in the collecting community.

Many of the pieces in the sale date from the Edo period (1603-1868) when the city of Edo, aka modern-day Tokyo, became the center of Tokugawa shogunate power. Although a time of peace, this was the era of Bushido – The Way of the Warrior – when moral and military values were learned and maintained by swordsmanship. The word samurai derives from the term meaning ‘one who serves.’

The core of the collection is an array of 17th-19th century Japanese blades, each made by folding and hammering layers of high and low carbon steel. There are some 15 examples of the wakizashi (side-inserted sword) that were worn in pairs from the sash at the side; 19 katana, the classic curved, slender, single-edged blades considered among the finest cutting weapons in military history, and more than 30 varieties of polearms and spears – the naginata, omi yari and su yari. They carry estimates of £80-£120 ($100-$140) to £1,500-£2,500 ($1,800-$3,050) each.

With Japan at peace from the early 17th century, much of the costume and the accessories of the samurai were used for parades and martial arts rather than on the battlefield. Japanese armor, in particular, was anachronistic, and still made in the centuries-old fashion with the o-yoroi (cuirass and skirt) formed of flexible plates once designed to repel a bow and arrow.

There are several good gusoku (composite armors), in the Dennison collection that date from either the end of the Edo period or the beginning of the Meiji restoration that would ultimately abolish the samurai class. The famous Haito edict of 1876 ended the ancient samurai privilege of bearing swords in public.

The full suit of Japanese armor typically comprises the o-yoroi, sode (shoulder guards), kabuto (helmet with neck guard), datemono (crest), kote (sleeve armor) and haidate (thigh armor) with kusari (chainmail) and a menpo (face mask) with yodarekake (throat guard). Hugely decorative, 15 different sets or near sets are offered with estimates starting at £1,000-£3,500 ($1,200-$3,650) each.

Dennison was also interested in tsuba and other sword fittings plus Japanese matchlock rifles, bows and quivers of arrows. Examples of these are also included in the sale.
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Japanese Edo period gusoku (composite armor), estimated at £3,000-£4,000 ($3,650-$4,900) at Sworders.
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Japanese Edo or Meiji katana with black lacquer saya (scabbard) and shagreen tsuka (handle), estimated at £1,500-£2,500 ($1,800-$3,050) at Sworders.
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Japanese Edo or Meiji suji bachi kabuto (ridged helmet), estimated at £1,200-£1,800 ($1,450-$2,200) at Sworders.
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Japanese Edo or Meiji wakizashi with gilt-metal mounts in a gold-speckled scabbard, complete with signed kozuka and conforming kōgai (additional blades), estimated at £800-£900 ($975-$1,100) at Sworders.
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Japanese Edo or Meiji jomanji yari with a lacquered and abalone inlaid shaft and lacquered scabbard, estimate £500-£700 ($600-$850) at Sworders.
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