A honkozane do-maru gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Myochin Nobuie and kao [cursive monogram], the mempo signed in gold lacquer Nobuie | The helmet Muromachi period, dated Tenbun juichi nen nin to… hachigatsu kichijutsu (forged on an auspicious day in the 8th month 1542), the armour Edo period, 19th century

The Property of a Gentleman

A honkozane do-maru gusoku [armour]

The helmet signed Myochin Nobuie and kao [cursive monogram], the mempo [face mask] signed in gold lacquer Nobuie

The helmet Muromachi period, dated Tenbun juichi nen nin to… hachigatsu kichijutsu (forged on an auspicious day in the 8th month 1542), the armour Edo period, 19^th century

Kabuto [helmet]:

the thirty-eight plate russet iron bowl with raised ridges, terminating in a seven-stage copper-gilt, silver-gilt and shakudo tehen kanamono, russet iron peak with sanko no byo rivets, large turnbacks applied with ishi-guruma mon (?), two-tiered black lacquered rounded neckguard (manju-jikoro) with close-spaced lacing in blue braid, the iron maedate [ornamental crest] in the form of a shikami, the helmet inscribed Hachiman daibosatsu, the details finely rendered

Mempo [face mask]:

russet iron ressei mempo forged with fierce expression, deep wrinkles and open mouth, detachable nose-plate, gold inlay moustache and chin tuft, silver lacquer teeth, red lacquer interior, tiered throat protector laced in matching braid

Do [cuirass]:

the wrapped cuirass in honkozane [true lamellae], two-tiered nodowa [throat guard], gyoyo [shoulder straps] applied with ishi-guruma mon, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt]

Sode, kote [shoulder guards and sleeves]:

six-tiered osode, chainmail kote, silk brocade lining embroidered with gold thread,

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

black lacquered haidate with silk brocade edging, shin guards (shino suneate)

Accessories:

accompanied with a lacquered wood armour storage box, 20^th century

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], no. 768 issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon-kai [The Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armour], dated Reiwa 5 (2023)