【Antique】 Spear Scabbard - Set of 2, Wooden Lacquerware

Price reduced.

These are the scabbards for two long spears that were in our home. The spears were disposed of by the police, but we were told to take the scabbards, so we would like to offer them to someone who can appreciate their value. The spearheads had crests, but the scabbards do not.

The angular scabbard appears to be lacquered with a stone-like finish. There are some areas where the coating is peeling slightly.

The more rounded scabbard seems to be made of nerikawa (hardened leather) or kankitsu (dry lacquer), which is formed by layering lacquer over nuno-gi (cloth-covered) material. It has a powdery black appearance due to the aging of the lacquer.

Both are being sold as-is. Please refer to the photos for dimensions.

According to AI:
Spears over 3 meters long with crests were likely not for ashigaru (foot soldiers) but were possessions of elite samurai serving close to their lord, such as hatamoto (direct retainers of the shogun) or umawari (guards of the shogun).
Spears exceeding 3 meters in length, with large scabbards and heavy fittings, also served as symbols of family status from the Sengoku to Edo periods. They were likely treasured and stored as decorative spears carried at the front of a daimyo's procession or as decisive weapons for emergencies kept in castle armories.