Edo period (1615-1868), a samurai military fan used to signal troops, show sign of rank, as a weapon in attack, and to shield eyes from sun, the gourd shaped fan has mixed metal decoration of a sun and moon at top corners and two confronted dragons below, the sun and moon representing the power of the cosmos and power of the military leader holding the fan, the reverse side has dots connecting by lines, with incised shaped hardware, from a collection that was purchased in Japan during the late 1940s.

Length 11.25 in.

Rubbing with wear and scratches to surface; nice patina; hardware fittings are slightly loose.

$500 - 1,000