An iroiro-odoshi honkozane nimai-do gusoku [armour] | Edo period, 18th century

An iroiro-odoshi honkozane nimai-do gusoku [armour]

Edo period, 18^th century

the sixty-two plate russet iron bowl with raised ridges, terminating in a five-stage copper-gilt and shakudo tehen kanamono floret, the first stage pierced with inome-bori [boar's eye openings], the mabisashi [peak] applied with stenciled Dutch leather, the fukigaeshi [turnbacks] similarly decorated and applied with copper-gilt kikubishi mon [chrysanthemum diamond crests] above futatsu hiki [two parellel lines], the copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border] chased and engraved with scrolling foliage, four-tiered black lacquer shikoro with kebiki odoshi [close-spaced lacing] in dark blue braid, the gold and black lacquered maedate [forecrest] in the form of a winged dragon, red pigment details, gilt metal kuwagata [stylised horns] on a kuwagata dai fixture, the russet iron Etchu-men [Etchu style face mask] forged in one piece with deep wrinkles, flared nostrils and open mouth, chased and engraved overall with yasurime [file markings], long yak hair moustache, silver lacquer teeth, two-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] laced in matching braid, the do [cuirass] hinged in two pieces and comprised of black lacquered honkozane [true lamellae] with iroiro-odoshi [variegated lacing] in blue, purple, pale and dark blue braid, stenciled leather to the muna-ita [upper section of the cuirass], the copper-gilt kanagu [metal fittings] of large peony heads in bloom, stenciled leather gyoyo [shoulder strap covers], copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border] chased and engraved with foliate scrolls, six-tiered sode [shoulder guards], chainmail and black lacquer kote [sleeves] with silk brocade lining, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt], the haidate with hishigata [lozenge] form iron plates each hammered with uchidashi [repoussé] details and joined with chainmail weave, lined with further silk brocade, tsutsu form suneate [shin guards] comprised of three iron plates hinged together, the sashimono [standard] decorated in sumi ink and pigment with a three-clawed dragon amongst clouds, gold and black lacquer stand, gilt metal fitting, with an armour display stand and two armour storage boxes