Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)

The shibuichi plumage meticulously inlaid in hirazogan, each feather with neatly incised silver tips centered by a gold line, the tertials and tail feathers similarly decorated and highlighted with shakudo, flanked by minutely detailed gold claws terminating in shakudo talons. The reverse applied in gold lacquer and fitted below the head with a kiku-blossom loop. With orange tassels and a gilt-metal fitting.

LENGTH 17.7 cm
WEIGHT 216.5 g

With a wood storage box inscribed: Dai senhyakurokujuichi go, Zogan takagata kanagu [no. 1161, inlaid metal fitting (kanagu) in the shape of a hawk], a red stamp ‘the quality examined’, and at the center ‘Shingyokeiyo (An honorable presentation item titled Lifting up Hawk (The Lavish Life))’.

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, the back with some fatigue cracks along the rims and above the tail, light surface scratches, and little rubbing to the gilding, not impacting the main side with only very few minuscule losses to inlays mostly to edges.
Provenance: The Saoud bin Mohammed Ali Al-Thani Foundation, subsequently deaccessed. The tail with a label no. ‘12867 HS’. The box with a label ‘15350/1’ and ‘276’. Saoud bin Mohammed Ali Al-Thani (1966-2014) was a Qatari prince who served as minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage. By the turn of the 21st century, Sheikh Saoud had established an international reputation as an avid art collector, both for his own collection as well as those of several state-owned museums he oversaw in Qatar. Sheikh Saoud’s legacy as a collector is remarkable, as he laid the foundations of the major collections of Qatar Museums. In 2021, the Museum of Islamic Art hosted an exhibition in tribute to the legendary collector, titled A Falcon's Eye: Tribute to Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani.

In Japan, hawks represent boldness, bravery, fighting spirit, and nobility. Historically, hawks were associated with the noble practice of falconry, an elite sport enjoyed by the samurai class. This association extends to their depiction in textiles, where they symbolize high status, nobility, and refined taste. Furthermore, they convey a sense of watchfulness and protection, embodying the idea of a watchful guardian overseeing one’s well-being.