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An Unusual Japanese Fireman’s Coat with Scenic Design

An unusual and beautifully composed 19th-century Japanese fireman’s coat (hikeshi banten), constructed of multiple layers of heavy cotton densely quilted with thousands of sashiko stitches. The back features a striking scenic composition framed by sweeping, ribbon-like forms, opening onto a turbulent seascape with a distant multi-tiered pavilion or temple and a sailing vessel beyond. Stylized waves and curving lines continue across the lower portion of the coat, creating a particularly graphic and sophisticated design. Richly decorated coats of this type were associated with Japan’s celebrated hikeshi firefighting brigades, their bold imagery reflecting the courage and visual culture of the firemen themselves.

Provenance: The estate of John Adair Jr. (1942–2025), founder and proprietor of Kurofune Antiques in Tokyo (est. 1978), a world-renowned destination for Japanese basketry, prints, and furniture, featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Wall Street Journal.