A tatami gusoku [folding armour] | Edo period, 18th century

Property from an American Collector

A tatami gusoku [folding armour] 

Edo period, 18^th century 

Kabuto [helmet]:

The six-plate russet iron bowl with copper-gilt raised ridges, terminating in a five-stage tehen kanamono of typical chrysanthemum form, russet iron mabisashi [peak], black lacquered leather fukigaeshi [turnbacks] applied with copper tsuki-hana mon [moon flower crests], copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border], four-tiered black lacquer itamono-jikoro [solid plate neck guard] with close-spaced lacing in blue braid, the gold and black lacquer maedate [forecrest] in the form of a hyotan [gourd]

Hanbo [half mask]:

The russet iron hanbo of typical form with pronounced jaw, three-tiered sabiji-nuri [simulated russet iron] lacquered yodaregake [throat protector] with close-spaced lacing in blue braid

Do [cuirass]:

The collapsible iron do [cuirass] with a chained panel hammered in uchidashi [repoussé] with a peony flower beside a pair of karashishi, furter panels in the form of kikko [turtle shell] plates linked with chainmail weave and leather lacing, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt] with spaced lacing in dark blue braid

Kote [sleeves]:

Shibuichi hyotan-gote [sleeves with gourd embellishments, signed Haruta Katsumitsu, blue silk lining

Haidate, sune-ate [thigh protectors and shin guards]:

Chainmail thigh protectors, shino suneate

Accessories:

Sashimono [banner] in the form of a double gourd, fitted wood armour storage box