A Sendai style go-mai tateage-do gusoku [armour with cuirass in five vertical sections] | Edo period, 19th century

Armour from an Important Private European Collection

A Sendai style go-mai tateage-do gusoku [armour with cuirass in five vertical sections] 

Edo period, 19^th century 

the single plate iron bowl hammered, chased and engraved with a Chinese sage carrying a sho on the back of a three-clawed dragon among swirling clouds, a further dragon to the reverse, gilt details, terminating in a one-stage copper-gilt tehen kanamono, the mabisashi [peak] with archaic geometric design, chainmail shikoro [neck guard], the ressei mempo [face mask with fierce expression] forged with deep wrinkles, flared nostrils and open mouth, detachable nose plate, yak hair moustache, red lacquer interior, two-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] with sugake odoshi [spaced lacing] in dark blue braid, the heavy iron go-mai tateage do [cuirass with five vertical sections] hammered, chased and engraved with Fudo-myo and his attendants Seitaka and Kongara surrounded by tempestuous waters and clouds, the reverse with a further dragon chasing a flaming pearl, the fine kanagu [fittings] pierced with katabami [wood sorrel] above foliage scrolls, copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border], four-tiered sode [shoulder guards], seven tassets of five tiered kusazuri [skirt], the haidate [thigh guards] in chainmail weave and silk brocade, bishamon suneate [shin guards], with an armour dosplay stand and an armour storage box

Mounted on the armour storage box: 138.5 cm., 54½ in. high

The armour storage box: 54.2 x 40.5 x 40.2 cm., 21⅜ x 16 x 15⅞ in.