A yokohagi nimai-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ienari (Saotome Ienari, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, 18th century

Armour from an Important Private European Collection

A yokohagi nimai-do gusoku [armour]

The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ienari (Saotome Ienari, a resident of Hitachi Province) 

Edo period, 18^th century

the sixty-two plate russet iron bowl with raised ridges, terminating in a five-stage russet iron tehen kanamono floret, russet iron mabisashi [peak] with copper fukurin [ornamental border], the large fukigaeshi [turnbacks] of stenciled leather and applied with patinated metal katabami mon [wood sorrel crests], two-tiered black lacquer itamono manju-jikoro [rounded neck guard with solid plates] wiith sugake odoshi [spaced lacing] in pale orang braid, gilt metal maedate [forecrest] in the form of a further katabami mon, the russet iron mempo [face mask] in ryubu style with gentler expression and mouth slightly ajar, hinged nose plate, yadome [standing flanges] to the cheeks, black lacquer interior, two-tiered stenciled leather and black lacquer yodaregake [throat protector] laced in matching braid, the sabiji-nuri [simulated russet iron] lacquered do [cuirass] hinged in two pieces and comprised of horizontal plates with standing rivets, copper-gilt and shakudo fukurin [ornamental border] chased and engraved in relief with foliage scrolls, six-tiered sode [shoulder guards] decorated in blue and white lacing with crossed axes, chainmail kote [sleeves] with blue linen lining, six tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt], the kawara haidate [thigh guards] with black lacquer and blue linen lining, shino suneate [shin guards], with an armour display stand and armour storage box 

Mounted on the armour storage box: 138 cm., 54⅜ in. high

The armour storage box: 52.5 x 40.5 x 40.5 cm., 20½ x 16 x 16 in.