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Edo period (17th century), helmet signed Soshu ju Ietsugu saku
Details
A Hanaito odoshi nimai-do gusoku (blue and purple laced two-piece cuirass armor)
Edo period (17th century), helmet signed Soshu ju Ietsugu saku
The armor comprising:
Helmet [kabuto]: a forty-two plate russet iron sujibachi (ridged helmet) with gilt fukurin (edging), each plate with fifteen zaboshi ('rounded rivets seated on floral washers), three tier hachimanza (decorative surround to aperture at crown, iron maedate-kake (fore-crest fixture), gilt copper maedate of a stylized character 'Yama' (mountain), the central vertical line in the form of a ken (double edged Buddhist sword), rounded iron mabisashi (brim) with gilt fukurin
Neck guard [shikoro]: four-tiered purple kebiki-odoshi (close - laced) shittsuke-zane (plae simulating individual scales) Hineno type neck guard, the fukigaeshi (turned-back portions) with gilt yama mon (family badges) in roundels
Face mask [menpo]: black lacquered iron menpo (mask) with detachable nose and red-lacquered upper lip section with bristling moustache, five tier yodare-kake (bib) of kittsuke-zane-laced with purple
Cuirass [nimai-do]: the two-piece cuirass of blue kebiki odoshi (close lacing) of alternate black lacquered iron and leather hon kozane (individual scales), the munaita (upper breast section) and ushiro tate-age (upper back section) together with the waki-ita (under-arm pieces) and the watagami (shoulder strap) of shittsuke-zane (sheet iron in simulation of hon-kozane), manchiru (mantle - shoulder covering) blue brigandine
Skirt [kusazuri]: seven tasset skirt of five tiers, of hon-kozane with close purple lacing
Sleeves and shoulder guards [kote and sode]: black lacquered blue laced hon-kozane chu-sode (medium shoulder guards)' red hishinui (decorative knots) on the lower tier, black lacquered iron hyotan (gourd) sleeves
Thigh protector and lower leg guards [haidate and sune-ate]: black-lacquered kawara haidate (roof tile type sane), russet, three-splint corrugated black lacquered iron shino-suneate with buff leather-covered brigandine tate-age (knee covers).
Edo period (17th century), helmet signed Soshu ju Ietsugu saku
The armor comprising:
Helmet [kabuto]: a forty-two plate russet iron sujibachi (ridged helmet) with gilt fukurin (edging), each plate with fifteen zaboshi ('rounded rivets seated on floral washers), three tier hachimanza (decorative surround to aperture at crown, iron maedate-kake (fore-crest fixture), gilt copper maedate of a stylized character 'Yama' (mountain), the central vertical line in the form of a ken (double edged Buddhist sword), rounded iron mabisashi (brim) with gilt fukurin
Neck guard [shikoro]: four-tiered purple kebiki-odoshi (close - laced) shittsuke-zane (plae simulating individual scales) Hineno type neck guard, the fukigaeshi (turned-back portions) with gilt yama mon (family badges) in roundels
Face mask [menpo]: black lacquered iron menpo (mask) with detachable nose and red-lacquered upper lip section with bristling moustache, five tier yodare-kake (bib) of kittsuke-zane-laced with purple
Cuirass [nimai-do]: the two-piece cuirass of blue kebiki odoshi (close lacing) of alternate black lacquered iron and leather hon kozane (individual scales), the munaita (upper breast section) and ushiro tate-age (upper back section) together with the waki-ita (under-arm pieces) and the watagami (shoulder strap) of shittsuke-zane (sheet iron in simulation of hon-kozane), manchiru (mantle - shoulder covering) blue brigandine
Skirt [kusazuri]: seven tasset skirt of five tiers, of hon-kozane with close purple lacing
Sleeves and shoulder guards [kote and sode]: black lacquered blue laced hon-kozane chu-sode (medium shoulder guards)' red hishinui (decorative knots) on the lower tier, black lacquered iron hyotan (gourd) sleeves
Thigh protector and lower leg guards [haidate and sune-ate]: black-lacquered kawara haidate (roof tile type sane), russet, three-splint corrugated black lacquered iron shino-suneate with buff leather-covered brigandine tate-age (knee covers).
Provenance
Private collection, Japan
Literature
Nagoya Castle Museum, ed., Musha mamori no dezain (The design of warrior and protection), exh. cat. (Nagoya: Nagoya Castle Museum, 1995). pl. 29. (helmet)
Exhibited
"Tokubetsu ten bushi no hokori - yoroi (Special exhibition: The pride of warrior - armor)," Gifu City Museum of History, Gifu, April 15-May 22, 2005 (helmet)
Brought to you by
Takaaki Murakami