Gold and black lacquered Samurai suit-of-armour

A wonderful gold and black lacquered Samurai suit-of-armour (yoroi) with orange, white, purple and green cords, a multi-coloured and golden hem and amazing golden lacquer hiramaki-e details 平蒔絵 (low-relief design) (kuro’urushinuri iroiro’ito kin’suso hotoke nimai’dô tôsei gusoku).
This all-matching samurai suit stands out because of the beautiful all-over maki-e floral decorations.

The yoroi has a nice black lacquer eighteen-plate suji’kabuto-helmet. In front a striking maedate in the shape of a long-horned fanged oni (demon). The small fukikaeshi (face guards) on both sides are decorated with golden lacquer maki-e of a crest depicting a horse bit (kutsuwa) surrounded by scrolling foliage. The scrolling foliage maki-e continuous on the four neck-guards (shikoro) which are laced with white, purple, orange and green silk cords and have a multi-coloured and golden hem. The back of the helmet bears a signature: ‘Made by Satsuma Kunizumi, 11th generation Mitsunobu’ 薩摩國住十一代光忍作.

Accompanying the helmet is a black lacquer ‘angry man’-facial mask (resseibô) with a white moustache, gold lacquer teeth and a separate nose-piece. Below the mask gold and black lacquer three-piece gorget (yodarekake) with similar scrolling foliage maki-e, and laced with cords in the same colour scheme as the helmet. On the chin is a small crest of a flower in relief.

Protecting the shoulders is a five-piece gold lacquer metal tôsei’sode. The hardware with an openwork chrysanthemum flower design with a golden silk tassel hanging from the side.

The arms are protected by various golden lacquered pieces connected by Japanese mail, some of these pieces are in the shape of bottle gourds, hence this type of sleeve armour is called hisago’kote 瓠籠手 (bottle gourd bracer). The elbow’s protective plate is in the shape of a chrysanthemum flower, and the hand guards (tekko) hotoke This whole is placed over a navy blue silk with a multi-coloured flower design.

The two-piece bucket-shaped cuirass with a smooth black lacquer body (hotoke’dô) decorated with a large ‘horse bit’-crest (kutsuwa’mon) surrounded by scrolling peonies rendered in golden maki-e. The scrolling peony design continuous around the entire cuirass. Above and on the side some laced gold lacquer izatane-plates. The inside is covered by light “smoked leather” with a shishi (temple lion) design.
From the cuirass hangs a laced skirt in seven-parts of five-piece kusazuri.

The form-fitting grieves are made of three slightly overlapping gold lacquer plates (tsubo’suneate) fastened to the same navy blue silk tateage. The side of one grieve is signed as well with the same mark.

Including a folding fan (sensu) with some kanji inscriptions.

With a square black lacquered store-box for a suit-of armour (yoroi’bako). The front of the store-box decorated with matching kutsuwa’mon in lacquer.

In a very good condition with some traces of age and wear. Please take a close look at a restoration to the horn of the meadate. For a clear condition reference, please look at the photos as well.
Taishô period – Early Shôwa period (First part 20th century)
Height with box: approx.: 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.