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Large Antique Silver Kanzashi Hairpin, Family Crest

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All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Japanese:Metalwork: Pre 1920: item # 700328

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Large Antique Silver Kanzashi Hairpin, Family Crest

Large silver geisha kanzashi (hair pins) with a family crest of three Kikyo (bellflower) blossoms within the kikko (tortoiseshell) hexagonal frame. Unique kanzashi for elaborated hairdo. This kanzashi looks better than the photos shown. 9" long, late Meiji/Taisho period.

*The hexagon motif is a typical example of a pattern that was first popular among the courtly associates as a decoration on clothing, furnishings, carriages, and the like, and later adopted as a formal heraldic emblem. The tortoise is associated with the god of the north and probably because of that it has been the official emblem of the very influential Izumo Shrine which is located in the northern part of Japan. Parishioners of Izumo and its associated shrines frequently adopted the hexagon as their own family crest to commemorate their devotion. Three flowers inside of kikko is “kikyo”. Kikyo with its beautiful velvet like indigo color, it has been a popular flower painted by Japanese artists. It was adopted as emblems by the samurai warriors since thirteen century.

*The Elements of Japanese Design by John W. Dower



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