A JAPANESE SNAP MATCHLOCK MUSKET (TANEGASHIMA TEPPO), 18TH/19TH CENTURY with heavy octagonal barrel swelling at the muzzle and fitted with a pierced wedge-shaped foresight, block-shaped back-sight, decorated over its surface in soft metals with dragons and a phoenix amidst traditional clouds, incised with two large characters on a silvered ground at the median and with a gilt aoi mon, probably Tockugawa, over the breech, the latter signed beneath, fitted with a screw-in plug concealed within the stock and retained by a scroll-engraved brass band, fitted with integral iron pan decorated en suite and with pivot brass cover, brass fence, iron serpentine decorated with matching cloud designs, brass trigger with hand support behind and blackened hardwood full stock (cracked ahead of the lock, ramrod missing) 75.8 cm; 29 7/8 in barrel Provenance JWHA Inv. No. 2083 The barrel is signed Jitetsu Niju Makibari Setsu(no) Ju Tanaka Yasubei of Kisen