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An extremely rare Negoro lacquer yumi (longbow) Muromachi Period image 1
An extremely rare Negoro lacquer yumi (longbow) Muromachi Period image 2
Lot 171*

An extremely rare Negoro lacquer yumi (longbow)
Muromachi Period

Fine Japanese Art
11 November 2010, 14:30 GMT
London, New Bond Street

Sold for £204,000 inc. premium

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An extremely rare Negoro lacquer yumi (longbow)

Muromachi Period
Finely constructed with a narrow limb and thick core, the long, elegant shaft unadorned and lightweight, full of knots and knobbles carved with integral nicks at each end to hold the bowstring in place, with wood storage box. 137cm (54in) long. (2).

Footnotes

根来弓　室町時代

Published and Exhibited: Okura Museum of Art, Tokubetsuten, Negoro (Special Exhibition, Negoro), Exhibition Catalogue, Tokyo, 2009, pl.159.

This exceptionally rare and remarkable survival from the brutal militaristic era of medieval Japan is apparently the only recorded Negoro lacquer bow. Longbows were first accepted as a formal military weapon in 1252 and were not as elaborate as other weapons. However in light of the ornamental quality and delicate craftsmanship of the example presented here, it is probably more likely that it was used only for ceremonial purposes such as during a Shinto ritual or Buddhist ceremony.

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