Yoroi - Lacquered metal - Kōnin of the 11th generation - A red impressive ōyoroi with 32 plate hoshikabuto-helmet & kikkō ni narabiya family crest - Japan - Shōwa period (1926-1989)

A red lacquered ōyoroi with faded black cords and a vermillion hem (shu' urushinuri kuro'ito odoshi yoroikabuto) . A thirty-two plate hoshikabuto-helmet with large fukikaeshi decorated with “smoked leather” and a crest in relief of two arrow feathers inside a hexagonal (kikkō ni narabiya mon) . In front of the helmet are large connected kuwagata-antlers and a large arrow feather crest. The helmet has three neck-guards (shikoro) with black cords and a vermillion hem. A red lacquered facial mask of an elderly person with a separate noose-piece and a white moustache (resseibō) and below a four-piece gorget (nodowa) . Large eight part shoulder-guards with orange cords (sode) protect the shoulders and arm-guards covered with above red metal squares and below gourd pieces together with Japanese mail over brocade the arms (fukubekote) . A two-piece bucket shaped red lacquered cuirass with horizontal metal strips laced with black cords (kirizuke kozanedō) . The cuirass has in front a ‘smoked leather’ band and two tassels and at the back a large orange tassel. From the cuirass hangs a skirt of six seven-piece kusazuri. The sendannoita (right side of the cuirass) and (left) kyūbinoita hanging over the cuirass are used as an extra protection against arrows. Large cuisses (haidate) that protect the upper legs show laced red lacquered metal karuta plates. Tubular greaves (dōsuneate) protect te lower legs. With a brocade waist-band. In a large box for a suit-of-armour (O-yoroibako) decorated in gold makie-lacquer with the above mentioned arrow crest. The ōyoroi is signed at one of the greaves: “made by Kōnin of the eleventh generation from Satsuma” (act. 20th century) , with a kaō (abstract signature) . Height including stand: approx. 170 cm.