Lot 46 STRIKING AND ALL-MATCHING JAPANESE GOLD AND BLACK LACQUER SUIT-OF-ARMOUR

Striking and all-matching Japanese gold and black lacquer suit-of-armour (yoroi) with orange cords, a multicoloured and purple hem and a 2-piece cuirass (kuro’urushinuri hi’ito murakashi’suso nimaidô tôsei gusoku).

– 10-plate hoshi’bachi kabuto (helmet with domed rivets ) with golden metal kuwagata-antlers and a circular maedate, 5-tiered chrysanthemum-shaped tehen’no’kanamono (decorative apex fitting), golden silk agemaki (decorative tassel), 2-tiered ‘itazane’-plate shikoro (neck guards) and broad back-bending fukikaeshi (face guards) with light decorative ‘smoked leather’ and chrysanthemum-shaped (kiku) appliques.
– ‘Angry man’-facial mask (resseibô-type menpô) with separate nose-piece boasting a black moustache, gold lacquered teeth, and 4-tiered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate gorget (yodarekake).
– Sode (shoulder guards), ô-type, constructed of 6 rows of tiered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plates fitted with decorative hardware with a chrysanthemum motif, accessorized with golden silk cords and decorative tassels.
– Kote (bracers), shino-type, long vertical metal pieces connected by Japanese mail (kaushi-gusari) placed over shiny purple brocade silk with phoenix and scrolling foliage design.
– Dô (cuirass), ‘dangae’-type (lit. step changing), constructed with two ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate laced using kebiki-type of lacing above, with four ‘itazane’-plates underneath laced in a ‘sugake’-fashion. In front two small golden silk agemaki. At the bottom with a 6-parts of 5-piece ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate kusazuri (tassets).
– Brown silk uwa’obi (waist band).
– Haidate (thigh armour) with 4-rows of 2 ‘kiritsuke iyozane’-plates surrounded by matching silk and ‘smoked leather’ borders.
– Suneate (shin guards), tsutsu-type, tube-shaped with large vertical metal plates laced over matching silk, and with tateage (knee guards) of the same material.

Including a wooden inscribed sign:
“Satsuma Armour and helmet, modern design with a black body, Scarlet lacing” 薩摩鎧兜 黑胴当世素料 緋あどし

With a square black lacquered store-box for a suit-of armour (yoroi’bako). The front of the store-box decorated with a gold lacquered character mae 前 (‘in front’) in gold. The Kanji ‘Mae’ meaning ‘the first’; in other words: ‘I, who has priority above others’.

Height with box: approx. 160 cm.
With wooden stand.

Period: Japan – Late-Shôwa period (Late-20th century).

In a very good condition with some expected traces of age. Please take a close look at the photos for a condition reference.