Shashimono, Battle Standard—edo Period (1603–1868).

JAPAN - Edo Period (1603–1868).
Shashimono, a white silk battle standard decorated on one side with two characters written in ink, with gilded leather reinforcements at the four corners; it is gusseted onto a black-lacquered bamboo pole (shows signs of wear).
Tear at the bottom and in the upper left corner.
Dimensions: 123 x 34 x 1 cm.
Sold with its stand.
Dimensions with stand: 123.3 x 34 x 12 cm.
Notes: Given its dimensions, this shashimono was likely intended to be attached to the back of a samurai’s armor.
Widely used during periods of civil war, shashimonos made it possible to quickly identify a warrior amid the chaos of battle. They often bore the crest of the clan to which the warrior belonged, but could also feature mottos, religious symbols, or distinctive patterns. Beyond their practical function of identification, shashimonos thus affirmed a samurai’s affiliation with a house and, by extension, his loyalty to his lord.