A JAPANESE FIREMAN'S COAT

A JAPANESE FIREMAN'S COAT, HIKESHI BANTEN

MEIJI 1868-1912

The reversible garment made of quilted cotton cloth, sashiko, one side with the family crest for the Minamoto clan of three gentian flowers and bamboo leaves, rindou mon, on a deep indigo ground, the other side with freehand paste-resist decoration, tsutsugaki, depicting a man and a tiger, possibly Kato Kiyomasa, 122cm.

Kato Kiyomasa (1562-1611) was a daimyo famous for his successful campaigns against Joseon in Korea. He is often represented practising his hobby of hunting tigers.

Cf. The Denver Art Museum, access. no.1999.265 for a comparable fireman's jacket decorated with a mythical scene also suggesting a parallel between the legendary hero and the fireman's courage and agility.