Lot 58 EDO YOROI

An antique, all-matching and complete black and gold lacquered Japanese ‘great suit of armour’ (ô’yoroi) laced with navy blue silk cords, fitted with a two-piece cuirass (kin’urushinuri kon’ito nimai’dô tôsei gusoku):

• ‘Suji’bachi kabuto’ (helmet with raised ridges) with a gilded wooden ‘nichirin’ 日輪 (sun) ‘maedate’ (forecrest). The helmet’s 62-plate black lacquered bowl is topped by a 4-tiered copper ‘tehen’no’kanamono’ (decorative apex fitting) with engraved scrolling foliage motif. 5-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).
• ‘Resseibô’-type ‘menpô’ (‘angry man’-facial mask) with a separate nose-piece adorned with a brown moustache, and with gold lacquered teeth, and a 4-tiered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate ‘yodarekake’ (throat guard).
• ‘Sode’ (shoulder guards), ‘tôsei’-type, constructed with 5 rows of slightly arched ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plates lacquered in gold and laced with navy blue silk cords.
• ‘Kote’ (bracer), ‘hisago’-type 瓠 (bottle gourd), constructed with various black lacquered pieces connected by Japanese mail (‘kaushi-gusari’), some of these pieces in the shape of bottle gourds, hence the name. The hand guards (‘tekko’) decorated with a design of different flower emblems in relief. This whole is placed over blue brocade silk with a vibrant floral motif.
• ‘Dô’ (cuirass), ‘maru dô’-type, constructed with 8 rows of gold lacquered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plates laced in ‘kebiki odoshi’. The upper edge adorned with two gold lacquered family crests ‘紋’ (‘mon’) showcasing ‘mitsu kumi aikan’ 三つ組み合い鐶 (three-ring handle-set). Underneath equipped with a cord ring shaped like a chrysanthemum (‘kiku’). The back of the cuirass has a hook (‘gattari’) and support for a flagpole (‘ukezutsu’), complete with mount for the flagpole (‘uke’tsubo’). Hanging from the cuirass: 7-parts of 5-piece gold lacquered ‘kiritsuke kozane’-plate ‘kusazuri’ (tassets).
• ‘Haidate’ (thigh armour), ‘shinô’-type, small black lacquered oblong plates connected by ‘kaushi-gusari’. The lower part with plates shaped like a chrysanthemum. Placed on matching silk with decorative smoked leather borders.
• ‘Suneate’ (shin guards), ‘tsubo’-type, black lacquered form-fitting metal plates continuing in a wing-shaped top, fastened on matching silk lining.

Complete with a vibrant red lacquered wooden store-box for a suit-of-armour (‘yoroi’bitsu’) adorned with ‘maki-e’ (decorative lacquer) circles surrounding stylised butterflies and a faint golden diaper pattern. Equipped on the sides with iron ‘pole-carrying’-handles shaped like chrysanthemums.

Approx. height with box: 160 cm. Period: Japan – Late Edo period (First half 19th century).

Considering its age, the armour is in very good restored condition with general traces of age and wear to the lacquer and fabric. Relaced and refitted with new silk brocade at a later date. Please note the restoration of the ‘maedate’ and the gold on some ‘lames’. The ‘yoroi’bitsu’ is also in very good restored condition. For a clear impression of its condition, please refer closely to the photos.

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