Lot 128 BLACK LACQUER SUIT-OF-ARMOUR (YOROI)

A complete, all-matching, ‘light-weight’ modern Japanese black lacquer suit-of-armour (yoroi) laced with green silk cords, and a 2-piece cuirass (kuro’urushinuri midori’ito nimai’dô tôsei gusoku) featuring a crest 紋 (mon) showcasing a demon in front of arched peony leaves 鬼牡丹 (oni botan).

– 12-plate suji’bachi kabuto (helmet with raised ridges) with brass crescent moon maedate, 5-tiered golden metal chrysanthemum-shaped tehen’no’kanamono (decorative apex fitting), 3-tiered ‘itazane’-plate shikoro (neck guards) and pair of small protruding fukikaeshi (face guards) adorned with gilt metal chrysanthemum-shaped appliques. – ‘Angry man’-facial mask (resseibô-type menpô) with separate nose piece with white moustache and gold lacquered teeth, and 4-tiered ‘itazane’-plate gorget (yodarekake). – Sode (shoulder guards), ô-type, constructed with 7 ‘itazane’-plates.
– Kote (bracer), shino-type, metal pieces connected by Japanese mail (kaushi-gusari). The hand guards (tekko) with low domed rivets. The whole placed over black silk with red chrysanthemum design.
– Dô (cuirass) of the ‘yokohagi okegawa’-type. The front adorned with the demon crest in gold lacquer. Hanging from the cuirass are 6-parts of 5-piece ‘itazane’-plate kusazuri (tassets).
– Pale teal silk uwa’obi (waistband) with embroidered polychrome flower design.
– Haidate (thigh armour), ‘shino’-type, of 3-rows of 6 black lacquered rectangular plates connected by mail, on matching silk and with a white decorative ‘smoked leather’ border.
– Suneate (shin guards), shino-type, long metal plates connected by Japanese mail on en-suite silk with a dark purple tateage (knee guards).

Complete with a square black lacquered store-box for a suit-of armour (yoroi’bako) fitted with ‘pole carrying’-handles at the sides, and the front with the en-suite demon crest.

Period: Japan – Late Shôwa period/Heisei period (Second half 20th century).

Height with box: approx. 160 cm.

In a very good condition with minimal traces of wear. Please look at the photos for a condition reference.