EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

Details

AN IRON UCHIDASHI GOMAIDO-GUSOKU (ARMOR)
EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)
Helmet [kabuto]:
The toppai-nari iron helmet of nanban (Southern Barbarian foreign) style, with two plated joint in the center, gilt lacquered wakidate (side crests) of horns, the iron mabisashi with embossed eyebrows decoration, inscribed fragment of Ryogonshu (Surangama Sutra) and Hachiman daibosatsu to the interior of bowl

Neck guard [shikoro]:
The five-tier neck guard of lacquered iron itazane (sheet with straight edges) with blue lace in sugake-odoshi (spaced-lacing), fukigaeshi (turnbacks) decorated with gilt family crest of three pedals of wood sorrel and gilt fukurin (edging)

Facemask [menpo]:
The iron ressei-men (fierce expression type face mask) with mustache and detachable nose, applied with two odayori no kugi (cord hooks) beneath the chin, with a asenagashi-no-ana (drain), red lacquered interior, with three-tier lacquered iron yodare-kake (bib)

Cuirass [do]:
The iron five-pieces cuirass decorated with uchidashi (embossed) moon above waves, with shakudo saihaizukenokan (baton hook), fitted with iron five-tier eight-piece kusazuri (skirt)

Shoulder guards and sleeves [sode and kote]:
The iron tsubo-sode (shoulder guards) with five-tier itazane (sheet with straight edges) in blue laced sugake-odoshi (spaced-lacing), ippon shino-kote (sleeves with one plate) with inlaid silver

Thigh protector and lower leg guards [haidate and sune-ate]:
The kawara haidate (thigh protector) with iron plated and navy lace, iron shichihon shinosuneate (lower leg guards with seven plates

Armor storage box [karabitsu]:
A black lacquered wood box

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Takaaki Murakami (村上高明) Vice President, Specialist and Head of Department | Korean Art

tmurakami@christies.com +1 212 636 2160

Lot Essay

The cuirass of the present lot is worked in uchidashi (translate literally as “hammered”), known as a special technique for creating three-dimensional, sculptural works from a thin iron sheet by hammering. The Myochin family of armorers was particularly skilled at this technique of uchidashi techinique. Though this armor is not signed, the details on the work suggest that this armor may have been made by the Myochin armorer from Edo period.

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