A tosei gusoku (suit of armor)

Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th century

Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th century
Constructed of leather components laced in dark blue and lacquered black, comprising a 32-plate suji-kabuto surmounted with a three-stage gilt-copper and shakudo tehen chrysanthemum-form kanamono, the mabizashi applied with stenciled leather, the five-lame shikoro finishing in small fukigaeshi trimmed in gilt-copper, the front adorned with a gilt-brass crescent-moon maedate; the saru-bo with two cord-pegs and fitted with a four-lame yodarekake; the cuirass a nimai kiritsuke okegawa do decorated on the muna-ita with dragonflies in silver lacquer, the seven sections of five-lame kusazuri decorated with dragonflies in gold lacquer on the lowest lame; the tsutsu-gote with chain mail on the upper arms below the chu-sode; the Etchu haidate of rectangular plates in chain mail; the tsutsu-suneate with gilt pebbled leather on the interiors; with an armor stand and one armor storage box

Exhibited:
Museum London, London, Ontario, Canada