Antique Edo Japanese Iron Gunsen War Fan Big Dipper Sun Kamon Samurai BOSa77

This is an antique Japanese Gunsen (war fan) dating from the late Edo period. It features a traditional composition of sun and star motifs with black lacquer ribs, typical of historical samurai equipment.

The fan is constructed with heavy iron outer ribs (oyabone) and bamboo inner ribs. One outer iron rib is decorated with a gold-colored family crest (kamon). The crest appears to be a Goka-ni-Karahana / Oda-Mokko type crest, although the specific samurai family cannot be identified with certainty. The opposite iron rib displays the Big Dipper constellation (Hokuto Shichisei), a motif historically revered by warriors as a star that defeats enemies. The paper leaf shows a red sun on a gold background on one side, and a gold sun on a red background on the reverse.

Height: 33.0 cm / 12.99 in
Width: 44.0 cm / 17.32 in
Depth: 3.3 cm / 1.29 in
Weight: 421 g / 0.92 lbs

The item is in antique condition, showing significant signs of aging and heavy damage. The paper leaf has prominent tears along the folds and substantial missing sections, particularly at the bottom edges. The black lacquer on the iron ribs is heavily peeled, exposing extensive rust on the underlying metal.
Please check the photos carefully for details.