Auction Name: 2025 December 8 Arms & Armor, Civil War & Militaria Signature® Auction

Lot Number: 40017

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/6325*40017

Pair of Japanese Lacquered and Inlaid Abumi Stirrups, 19th Century.

A decorative pair of Japanese metal abumi stirrups, each with buckle-style handles and lacquered surfaces. Both stirrups are inlaid with two large brass crabs, one depicted with an abalone-inlaid body and the other with abalone-inlaid legs, the balance of the design worked in brass. Each stirrup measures approximately 12-inches in length and 10 1/2-inches in height including the handle.

Note: Abumi were the distinctive stirrups of the samurai, often decorated to reflect both artistic taste and symbolic meaning. Crabs were admired in Japanese art for their resilience and protective shell, making them a fitting motif for martial equipment.

Condition: Wear consistent with age. Losses to the inlays, particularly the abalone, with further losses to the lacquer inside, outside, and along the framed edges. Stress cracks visible toward the front of the stirrups. Overall in good condition for the period, though showing evident wear and use.

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