Black lacquer suit-of-armour (yoroi)

Outstanding Japanese black lacquer suit-of-armour (yoroi) with yellow, white and purple cords, a multicoloured and orange hem and a 2-piece cuirass (kuro’urushinuri iroiro’ito hi’suso nimaidô tôsei gusoku) with rare omodaka odoshi (lacing with triangle pattern) and copper trims.

– 18-plate zaboshi’bachi kabuto (helmet with seated rivets ) with striking gold-leaf wooden ‘dragon tail’-maedate (decorative front piece), long copper kuwagata-antlers, 6-tiered chrysanthemum-shaped gilded metal tehen’no’kanamono (decorative apex fitting), 3-tiered shikoro (neck guards) and long back-bending fukikaeshi (face guards) with decorative brown ‘smoked leather’ and chrysanthemum-shaped (kiku) appliques.
– Resseibô (‘angry man’-facial mask) with brown moustache, gold lacquered teeth, separate nose-piece and 4-tiered gorget (yodarekake).
– Ô’sode (shoulder guards) constructed of 7 rows of ‘itazane’-plates with golden silk cords and decorative tassels.
– Kote (bracers), shino-type, long vertical and pointed square metal pieces connected by Japanese mail (kaushi-gusari), relief design on the tekko (hand guards), placed over light brown brocade silk with floral design.
– Dô (cuirass) of the ‘mogami’-type with golden silk tassels in front and back, sendannoita (‘satinwood-board’), kyûbinoita (dovetail-board), and 7-parts of 5-piece ‘kiritsuke iyozane’-plate kusazuri (tassets) (one plate at the side with slack).
– Haidate (thigh armour) of 4-rows of 12 ‘kurata’-plates with star relief design, brown silk and decorative ‘smoked leather’ borders.
– Suneate (shin guards) of ‘tsubo’-type with copper rims and three form-fitted black lacquer plates with wing-shaped top. One of them is marked ‘Made by Satsuma Kunizumi, 11th generation Mitsunobu’ 薩摩國住十一代光忍作.

With a square black lacquered store-box for a suit-of armour (yoroi’bako) with red lacquer rims and ‘pole-carrying’ handles. 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.

Period: Japan – Late Meiji period/Taishô period (First quarter 20th century).

In a fair condition with traces of age and wear. The mounting on the visor has slack. Wear of the silk. Please take a close look at the photos for a condition reference.

We include a wooden stand and an explanation how to put this armour on display. When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.