Carefully considered inlaybrings
striking contrast to the rich, dark hue; and at the same time an artful
poetry, achieved with the ancient characters, SEIHEN, “Control Emergencies.”
This opens a unique window on the Samurai world.
Seemingly straight forward,
the gentle play of a twin meaning stitches the balance of opposites. Expressing
harmonic dualism, “Control” has propriety because it also places legitimate
governance. The two characters “Control,” marking social stability and
“Emergencies,” denoting chaos become a Yin-Yang polarity marrying
pragmatic action with social responsibility.
Correct action in support
of correct order, - the balance of high and low.
A .5 bore through an attractive,
bulb-head, octagonal sloping barrel with its striking contrast of silver
and gold inlay, this OMINO matchlock has Chinese dragons, NAMBAN style,
and DOKUTSUKI-KEN sword along its fixed sight.
The archaic Chinese characters
with their Japanese pronunciation and evocative, dynamic meaning are a
fulcrum to the AOI, Hollyhock, TOKUGAWA MON placed just above the breech.
Signed, in normal fashion, on the underside:
INOUE SEKIEMON SAKU TOSHITSUGU
Cao
One piece wood stock with
brass fittings and brass SAKURA MEKUGI-GUCHI.
Came with NBTHK ORIGAMI that
became lost at Christies
Inoue Sekiemon shop still
exists today
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