Lot 82 A GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER JAPANESE Ô’YOROI, MID SHOWA PERIOD (MID 20TH CENTURY)

A striking and complete great suit-of-armour (ô’yoroi), finished in gold and black lacquer, laced with vibrant orange cords, a multicoloured and navy blue hem, and featuring a rare one-piece cuirass (kuro’urushinuri hi’ito kon’suso dô maru ô’yoroi).

– Helmet (kabuto): 26-plate suji’bachi kabuto (helmet with raised ridges), mounted with long gilt kuwagata-antlers and a full moon maedate, both finely chiseled with scrolling foliage designs. The top crowned with a 5-tiered chrysanthemum-shaped tehen’no’kanamono (decorative apex fitting). Fitted with a 3-tiered hon’kozane-plate shikoro (neck guards), a golden silk agemaki (decorative tassel), and broad fukikaeshi (face guards) edged with smoked leather and adorned with chrysanthemum appliques.
– ‘Facial mask (menpô): Resseibô-type with a separate nose piece, gold-lacquered teeth, and a 2-tiered hon’kozane-plate gorget (yodarekake) suspended from a smoked leather border.
– Throat guard (nodowa) with 2-tiered ‘hon’kozane’-plate gorget (yodarekake) suspended from a smoked leather boarder.
– Shoulder guards (sode): Ô-type, consisting of six rows of hon’kozane plates, adorned with gilded metal chrysanthemum appliques, and accessorized with golden silk cords and decorative tassels.
– Bracers (kote): Shino-type, constructed with vertical metal splints connected by kaushi-gusari (Japanese mail), set over golden brocade silk featuring a polychrome floral motif.
– Cuirass (dô): Dô maru (one-piece cuirass), constructed from six rows of gold-lacquered hon’kozane plates, laced in kebiki-odoshi. From the shoulders hang a sendannoita (satinwood board) and a kyûbinoita (dovetail board). At the front, two small, and at the back a large golden silk agemaki. Hanging from the cuirass are seven sections of five-piece hon’kozane-plate kusazuri (tassets).
– Waistband (uwa’obi): made of en-suite brocade silk.
– Thigh guards (haidate): Fitted with five rows of two hon’kozane plates, edged with brocade silk and smoked leather borders.
– Shin guards (suneate): Tsubo-type suneate, form-fitting metal plates extending into wing-shaped tops, fastened to matching silk lining.
– Fur shoes (kegetsu: Made of light brown boar or deer fur, detailed with a smoked leather tab, a brocade silk border, and an orange silk cord.

The suit is accompanied by a large rectangular black lacquered kara’bitsu (store box for ô’yoroi), raised on six spreading feet. The front is adorned with a brass plate shaped as the kanji “Mae” 前, meaning “the first”—a declaration of priority and status.

Height with box: Approx. 160 cm, Width: 75 cm.

In a very good condition, with some minor traces of wear consistent with age. Please refer to the photos for a clear condition reference.
Includes a wooden stand.