A rare Nanban-style nimai-do gusoku [armour] | Edo period, 17th...

A rare Nanban-style nimai-do gusoku [armour]
Edo period, 17th century

Kabuto [helmet]:
The four-plate russet iron bowl of high conical form (shinomi-nari), applied to the apex with yak hair, stenciled Dutch leather peak and turnbacks with silver nawame-fukurin [ornamental border with impressed rope pattern], the turnbacks applied with copper-gilt Kaga ume-bachi mon [Kaga stylised plum crests], four-tiered black lacquer neck guard with close-spaced lacing in stenciled Doe skin braid

Mempo [face mask]:
the russet iron face mask forced with high cheekbone, prominent jaw and flared nostrils, detachable nose-plate, silver lacquer teeth, red lacquer interior, three-tiered throat protector laced in matching braid

Do [cuirass]:
the cuirass hinged in two pieces comprised of horizontal kiritsuke-kozane [false lamellae] plates, six tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt], all components laced in matching braid

Sode, kote [shoulder guards and sleeves]: six-tiered black lacquer shoulder guards, chainmail hyotan-gote [sleeves with gourd embellishments]

Haidate, sune-ate [thigh protectors and shin guards]:
the thigh protectors applied in mail to the lower section, the upper section lined in silk brocade embroidered in gold thread, russet iron shin guards hinged in three pieces and laced with blue braid

Accessories:
Tasseled saihai [commander's baton], armour storage box

Mounted on the armour storage box: 146½ cm., 57 in. high
The armour storage box: 57.5 x 44 x 44.5 cm., 22⅝ x 17¼ x 17½ in.

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], no. 294 issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Society for the Preservation of Japanese Armour], dated Showa 57 (1982).

Please note this lot is sold without an armour display stand.

Condition Report:
By the nature and condition of their use armours typically have some old wear. The finely patinated bowl with some slight overall pitting, the turnbacks with some old wear to the printed leather, the leather of the peak worn in places and with some slight leather losses, some chips to the lamellae of the neck guard, the mask with some slight surface abrasion to the nose as can be seen in the illustration, some other slight pitting to the pronounced chin, some minor lacquer losses to the reverse, overall the cuirass, shoulder guards and sleeves are in good condition with some wear to the silk linings and leather lacing, some slight detachment to the leather lacing in places, the russet iron mail sleeves and thigh protectors slightly oxidized, the russet iron shin guards with some wear and pitting.