Lot 74 ANTIQUE YOROI

An antique, complete black and gold lacquered Japanese suit of armour (yoroi) laced with orange, green, white and multi-coloured cords, and a 2-piece cuirass (kuro’urushinuri iroiro’ito nimai’dô tôsei gusoku).

• Suji’bachi kabuto (helmet with raised ridges) with a gilded wooden ‘hi no maru’ 日の丸 (sun disc) maedate (forecrest). The helmet’s 62-plate ‘russet iron’ bowl is topped by a 5-tiered parcel gilded tehen’no’kanamono (decorative apex fitting) with engraved scrolling foliage motif. 4-lame gold lacquered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate shikoro (neck guards). The visor (mabizashi) with hammered brow, flanked by a pair of protruding gold lacquered fukikaeshi (face guards).
• Black lacquered hanbô (mask covering the lower face), with a very pointy chin, reminiscent of that of a fox (kitsune), adorned with a Japanese apricot floret (ume). Fitted with gold lacquered 4-tiered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate gorget (yodarekake).’
• Sode (shoulder guards), tôsei-type, constructed with 5 rows of slightly arched ‘hon kozane’-plates lacquered in gold and laced with orange, green, white and multi-coloured silk cords..
• Kote (bracer), shino-type, black lacquered metal pieces connected by Japanese mail (kaushi-gusari), placed over brown cotton. Long vertical-placed pieces are protecting the lower arms, the upper arm with the same, but also with square and broader rectangular plates connected by denser kaushi-gusari. The elbow’s protective plate is also in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower (kiku).
• Dô (cuirass), nuinobe-type, barrel-shaped 2-piece cuirass constructed with rows of black lacquered ‘kiritsuke iyozane’-plate with green silk sugake odoshi. The back of the cuirass has a hook (gattari) and support for a flag-pole (ukezutsu). Hanging from the cuirass 6-parts of 4 (!)-piece gold lacquered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate kusazuri (tassets). • Haidate (thigh armour), shinô-type, small black lacquered oblong plates connected by ‘grid lines’ of kaushi-gusari. The lower part with rectangular plates surrounding a chrysanthemum. Placed on matching brown cotton.
• Suneate (shin guards), shino-type, long metal plates connected by Japanese mail placed over en-suite cotton and with a dark tateage (knee guards).
• Kegutsu (fur shoes) of black ‘boar’-skin with a silver leather tab in front, a silk border with a red cotton hem, and an yellow silk cord. -later date-

Complete with a brown lacquered wooden store-box for a suit-of armour (yoroi’bako) equipped on the sides with iron ‘pole-carrying’-handles.

Approx. height with box: 160 cm.

Period: Japan – Second half Edo period (18th century/First half 19th century).

Considering its age in a very good restored condition with general traces of age and wear of lacquer and fabric. Please have a look at the close-up of loss of lacquer at the back-side, and a lame in front with some loose cords. For a clear impressions of its condition as it concerns an antique item, please have a close look at the photos.

With wooden stand
Please note that the helmet stand on the photo is not included.