A yokohagi nimai-do gusoku [armour] | Meiji period, late 19th - early 20th century

The Property of a European Collector

A yokohagi nimai-do gusoku [armour]

Meiji period, late 19^th - early 20^th century 

Kabuto [helmet]:

The black lacquered six-plate iron bowl with raised ridges, applied with a shinodare [ornamental strip] to the central front plate with copper-gilt stylised chrysanthemum form rivets, terminating in a six-stage copper-gilt tehen kanamono floret, stenciled Dutch leather mabisashi [peak], large stenciled Dutch leather turnbacks applied with copper katabami mon [wood sorrel crests], black lacquered three-tiered ko manju-jikoro [slightly rounded neck guard] with spaced lacing in green and white braid, gilt metal maedate [forecrest] in the form of the characters Hachiman daibosatsu [Great Bodhisattva Hachiman], gilt metal kuwagata fitted on a pierced, chased and engraved kuwagata-dai

Mempo [face mask]:

The black lacquered iron ressei mempo [face mask with fierce expression] forged with wrinkled face, flared nostrils and open mouth, detachable nose plate, horse bristle moustache, gold lacquer teeth, red lacquer interior, three-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] with close-spaced lacing in green and white braid

Do [cuirass]:

The black lacquered iron yokohagi [horizontally plated] cuirass decorated in gold hiramaki-e with maru ni anzu mon [encircled apricot blossom crest], stenciled Dutch leather edging, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt] with close-spaced lacing in green and white braid

Sode, kote [shoulder guards and sleeves]:

Six-tiered black lacquer osode [large shoulder guards], chainmail sleeves with silk lining in gold brocade with floral and geometric design

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

Black lacquered kawara-zane ['roof-tile' constructed] thigh protectors, tsutsu form shin guards

Accessories:

Accompanied by a wood armour storage box and armour display stand