Length 1 : 3.26 cm x 1.28 cm ( 1.28 inches x 0.50 inches)
Length 2 : 2.61 cm x 1.57 cm ( 1.02 inches x 0.61 inches)
Jidai(era) : Late Edo period.
Special feature : Man with flag and elephant are engraved on Shibuichi plate.
Elephant were first imported to Japan at Keicho 15th (AD1408) but the first arrival to Edo were Kyoho 13th (AD1728).
At this time, pair of and elephants landed on Nagasaki. Tokugawa Yoshimune, the 8th Shogun of Edo shogunate orderd to bring them to Edo.
Female elephant died soon but the male elephant walked to Edo taking 80 days. During this trip, this elephant also audienced to emperor. Though there were necessary to have official rank even for a animals to meet emperor.
The elephant suddenly became threatment as Daimyo. And this is the reason ‘a man with the flag’ is a set with the elephant. A man with the flag leads a daimyo's procession.
Such design is very rare for Tosogu.
