Black lacquered suit of armour late Edo period

An old, all-matching and restored black lacquered Japanese suit of armour (yoroi) with navy blue cords and hems, and a two-piece cuirass with rare black bristly bear fur trims (kuro’urushinuri kon’ito kon’suso nimaidô tôsei gusoku).

The yoroi has a great black lacquered sixteen-plate akoda-nari sujii’bachi kabuto (helmet with raised ridges). The lacquered mabizashi (visor) mounted by connected bronze kuwagata antlers with in the centre an open work maedate in the shape of a rectangular uchiwa (type of traditional Japanese handheld fan).
Its overall shape is known as akoda-nari due to its resemblance to the akoda, a squash-like fruit.
Configured with a 6-tiered chrysanthemum-shaped bronze and shakudô tehen’no’kanamono (decorative apex fitting), four laced neck-guards (shikoro), a navy blue decorative silk tassel (agemaki) and small fukikaeshi (face guards) decorated golden maki-e (decorative lacquer) depicting a matching uchiwa.

Accompanying the helmet, is abroad russet iron ‘angry man’-facial mask (resseibô) with a brown moustache and goatee, gold lacquered teeth and a separate nose-piece. The cheeks with lacquered orekugi (helmet cord tying hook), and the chin with an ‘ase nagashi no ana’ (sweat running hole). Below the mask a laced black lacquered four-piece gorget (yodarekake).

Protecting the shoulders is a six-piece black lacquered ‘kiritsuke kozane’ tôsei’sode with ‘kebiki odoshi’-style laced blue cords.

The arms are protected by small black lacquered metal pieces connected by Japanese mail (kaushi-gusari); the lower arms with three thin vertical metal pieces, and around the elbow shaped like a chrysanthemum flower (sanbon’shino’kote). Placed over a navy blue brocade silk with a flower motif. Different flower-emblems in low relief decorate the hand guards (tekko) within the middle again a uchiwa, but this time a rounder one.

The two-piece bucket-shaped cuirass with rows of laced black lacquered ‘Kiritsuke Iyozane’-plates (mogami’dô) decorated with a bronze chrysanthemum-shaped cord ring in front. A bronze ring for accessories is attached at the right back side.
From the cuirass hangs a laced skirt in seven-parts of five-piece kusazuri ending in bristly trims of black bear fur. Around the waist a green and brown silk waistband (uwa’obi) with a leaf and vine design.

The thigh armour (haidate) that protect the upper legs consists of four rows of laced black lacquered karuta-plates bordered by a the same brocade.

The grieves are made of long and thin vertical lacquered metal plates connected by horizontal strings of Japanese mail.

With a high quality square red lacquered store-box for a suit-of armour (yoroi’bako) equipped on the sides with iron ‘pole-carrying’-handles. The front of the store-box decorated with a gold lacquered carvinf of the character mae 前 (‘in front’) in gold. The Kanji ‘Mae’ meaning ‘the first’; in other words: ‘I, who has priority above others’. The box is witted with refined decorative hardware.

Considering its age in a very good restored condition with some general traces of age and wear. Please look at the photos for a condition reference.
Late Edo period.
Approx. height with box: 160 cm.

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