The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 44. A fine Yoshitsune-gote do-maru gusoku [armour]  | The mempo signed Hirosaki ju Myochin Ki no Munekata Moriyoshi saku (made by Myochin Ki Munekata Moriyoshi, a resident of Hirosaki) | Edo period, 18th - 19th century.

A fine Yoshitsune-gote do-maru gusoku [armour] | The mempo signed Hirosaki ju Myochin Ki no Munekata Moriyoshi saku (made by Myochin Ki Munekata Moriyoshi, a resident of Hirosaki) | Edo period, 18th - 19th century

Lot Closed

May 10, 02:43 PM GMT

Estimate

150,000 - 200,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

A fine Yoshitsune-gote do-maru gusoku [armour]

The mempo signed Hirosaki ju Myochin Ki no Munekata Moriyoshi saku (made by Myochin Ki Munekata Moriyoshi, a resident of Hirosaki)

Edo period, 18th - 19th century 


the twenty-four plate russet iron bowl of twenty-four plates with standing rivets, the ornate riveted shinodare [ornamental strip] pierced, chased and engraved with scrolling foliage, three-stage copper-gilt tehen kanamono of typical chrysanthemum form, stenciled Dutch leather mabisashi [peak], the fukigaeshi [turnbacks] similarly decorated and applied with maru no uchi ni mitsu hikiryo mon [encircled triple Hikiryo crest], copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border] engraved with foliate scrolls and nanako, three-tiered black lacquer manju-jikoro [rounded neck guard] with kebiki odoshi [close-spaced lacing] in dark blue braid, gilt metal kuwagata [stylised horns] on a kuwagata-dai fixture, the fine reisei mempo [face mask with fierce expression] forged with deep wrinkled face, flared nostrils and open mouth, detachable nose plate, broad yak bristle moustache, red lacquer interior, three-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] in honkozane [true lamellae] and matching braid, honkozane do-maru [cuirass that wraps around the body without hinges] with stenciled Dutch leather edging and copper-gilt fukurin, six-tiered osode [large shoulder guards], chainmail kote [sleeves], the forearms decorated in gold and black hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with chrysanthemums and geometric pattern in the style of Yoshitsune-gote [Yoshitsune sleeves], the tekko [gauntlets] with butterflies among foliage, fine blue silk brocade lining with dragon roundels, stylised blossoms and clouds, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt], the honkozane haidate [thigh guards] also lined in silk brocade, shino suneate [shin guards], with an armour storage box


Mounted on its armour storage box: approx. 154 cm., 60⅝ in. high (excluding helmet fittings)

The armour storage box: 65 x 82 x 48 cm., 25⅝ x 32¼ x 18⅞ in. 


Please note that the wood armour display stand illustrated is not included in this lot. An armour stand can be ordered from the department.

Token Shunju ShimbunshaKatchu Bugu Juyo Bunka Shiryo Zuroku, volume four, (Tokyo, 2004), pg. 76-77.