The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

9 May - 16 May 2024 • London

Your local time • 12:00 PM GMT

Anonymous | Various scenes from the Revenge of the Soga Brothers | Edo period, 17th - 18th century

1 Anonymous | Various scenes from the Revenge of the Soga Brothers | Edo period, 17th - 18th century

Anonymous | Hunting oni | Edo period, 18th century

2 Anonymous | Hunting oni | Edo period, 18th century

A rare and impressive kawari kabuto [eccentrically-shaped helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

3 A rare and impressive kawari kabuto [eccentrically-shaped helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

A rare shinomi-nari kabuto [high conical helmet] | Momoyama period, late 16th century

4 A rare shinomi-nari kabuto [high conical helmet] | Momoyama period, late 16th century

A Haruta school suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Haruta Katsusada | The bowl Momoyama period, late 16th - early 17th century

5 A Haruta school suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Haruta Katsusada | The bowl Momoyama period, late 16th - early 17th century

A fine Saotome suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Joshu no Ju Saotome Ieno (Saotome Ieno, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, 17th century

6 A fine Saotome suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Joshu no Ju Saotome Ieno (Saotome Ieno, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, 17th century

A Myochin zaboshi kabuto [helmet with seated rivets] and associated Myochin mempo [face mask] | The helmet signed Sagami no kuni ju Yoshihisa saku (made by Yoshihisa, a resident of Sagami Province) | The mempo signed Myochin Munenao | The helmet Muromachi period, 16th century | The mempo Edo period, 17th century

7 A Myochin zaboshi kabuto [helmet with seated rivets] and associated Myochin mempo [face mask] | The helmet signed Sagami no kuni ju Yoshihisa saku (made by Yoshihisa, a resident of Sagami Province) | The mempo signed Myochin Munenao | The helmet Muromachi period, 16th century | The mempo Edo period, 17th century

An eboshi-nari kabuto [court cap shaped helmet] | Edo period, 18th century

8 An eboshi-nari kabuto [court cap shaped helmet] | Edo period, 18th century

A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Saotome Iechika | Edo period, 17th century

9 A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Saotome Iechika | Edo period, 17th century

A kawari kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

10 A kawari kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

A rare suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Fusamune and kao [cursive monogram] | Muromachi period, 16th century

11 A rare suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Fusamune and kao [cursive monogram] | Muromachi period, 16th century

A kawari-kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] | Edo period, 19th century

13 A kawari-kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] | Edo period, 19th century

A kawari-kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] | Edo period, 18th century

14 A kawari-kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet] | Edo period, 18th century

A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] and mempo [face mask] | Edo period, 18th century

15 A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] and mempo [face mask] | Edo period, 18th century

A fine okegawa shichimai-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, 18th century

16 A fine okegawa shichimai-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, 18th century

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

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

A rare Nanban-style nimai-do gusoku [armour] | Edo period, 17th century

18 A rare Nanban-style nimai-do gusoku [armour] | Edo period, 17th century

An okegawa-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Myochin | Edo period, 18th century

19 An okegawa-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Myochin | Edo period, 18th century

A koboshi-bachi [helmet with small standing rivets] | Edo period, 17th - 18th century

22 A koboshi-bachi [helmet with small standing rivets] | Edo period, 17th - 18th century

A momonari kabuto [peach shaped helmet] and somen [full face mask] | Edo period, 17th century and later

23 A momonari kabuto [peach shaped helmet] and somen [full face mask] | Edo period, 17th century and later

A fine so-fukurin suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Edo period, 18th century

24 A fine so-fukurin suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Edo period, 18th century

A fine and rare Saiga-bachi [Saiga style helmet] and ho-ate [half mask] | Signed Haruta Mitsusada saku (made by Haruta Mitsusada) | Muromachi - Momoyama period, 16th century

25 A fine and rare Saiga-bachi [Saiga style helmet] and ho-ate [half mask] | Signed Haruta Mitsusada saku (made by Haruta Mitsusada) | Muromachi - Momoyama period, 16th century

A Myochin suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Myochin Nobuie and kao [cursive monogram] | Muromachi period, dated Tenbun yonen kinoto hitsuji nigatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the 2nd month 1535)

26 A Myochin suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Myochin Nobuie and kao [cursive monogram] | Muromachi period, dated Tenbun yonen kinoto hitsuji nigatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the 2nd month 1535)

A nimai-do gusoku [armour], Edo period, 17th - 18th century

29 A nimai-do gusoku [armour], Edo period, 17th - 18th century

A so-fukurin kabuto [helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

30 A so-fukurin kabuto [helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

A momonari kabuto [peach-shaped helmet] and an associated mempo [face mask] | Edo period, 17th century

31 A momonari kabuto [peach-shaped helmet] and an associated mempo [face mask] | Edo period, 17th century

A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Myochin Ki Yoshihisa saku (made by Myochin Ki Yoshihisa) | Edo period, 18th century

32 A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Signed Myochin Ki Yoshihisa saku (made by Myochin Ki Yoshihisa) | Edo period, 18th century

A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] with silver inlay | Edo period, 17th century

33 A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] with silver inlay | Edo period, 17th century

An eboshi-nari kaubuto [court cap shaped helmet] and an associated tengu mem [face mask in the form of a tengu] | Edo period, 18th century

34 An eboshi-nari kaubuto [court cap shaped helmet] and an associated tengu mem [face mask in the form of a tengu] | Edo period, 18th century

A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Edo period, 17th century

35 A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] | Edo period, 17th century

An o-boshi kabuto [helmet with large raised rivets] | Signed Muneaki saku (made by Muneaki) | Edo period, 17th century

36 An o-boshi kabuto [helmet with large raised rivets] | Signed Muneaki saku (made by Muneaki) | Edo period, 17th century

A Myochin o-boshi kabuto [helmet with large seated rivets] | Signed Nihon yuiitsu katchu ryoko Myochin Shikibu Ki no Munetora kore o tsukuru (made by the Greatest Armourer of Japan [honorary title], Myochin Shikibu Ki no Munetora) | Edo period, 18th century

37 A Myochin o-boshi kabuto [helmet with large seated rivets] | Signed Nihon yuiitsu katchu ryoko Myochin Shikibu Ki no Munetora kore o tsukuru (made by the Greatest Armourer of Japan [honorary title], Myochin Shikibu Ki no Munetora) | Edo period, 18th century

A nanban kabuto [European style helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

38 A nanban kabuto [European style helmet] | Edo period, 17th century

A hoshi-bachi [helmet with raised rivets] | Edo period, 17th century

39 A hoshi-bachi [helmet with raised rivets] | Edo period, 17th century

A wakizashi | Attributed to Rai Kunisue | Kamakura period, 13th century

40 A wakizashi | Attributed to Rai Kunisue | Kamakura period, 13th century

A Bizen wakizashi | Signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province) | Muromachi period, dated Eikyo yonen hachigatsu hi (a day in the fourth year, 8th month of the Eikyo era [equivalent to 1425])

41 A Bizen wakizashi | Signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province) | Muromachi period, dated Eikyo yonen hachigatsu hi (a day in the fourth year, 8th month of the Eikyo era [equivalent to 1425])

A Yamato Tegai school wakizashi | Attributed to Monju | Muromachi period, 15th century

42 A Yamato Tegai school wakizashi | Attributed to Monju | Muromachi period, 15th century

A katana | Signed Moritaka saku (made by Moritaka) | Muromachi period, late 15th century

43 A katana | Signed Moritaka saku (made by Moritaka) | Muromachi period, late 15th century

A katana | Signed Gassan | Muromachi period,  14th - 15th century

44 A katana | Signed Gassan | Muromachi period, 14th - 15th century

An Echizen katana | Attributed to Chiyozuru Morihiro | Nambokucho period, 14th century

45 An Echizen katana | Attributed to Chiyozuru Morihiro | Nambokucho period, 14th century

A kodachi | Attributed to Enju Kuniyoshi and with kinzogan [gold inlay] inscription by Hon'ami Koson and kao | Kamakura - Nambokucho period, 14th century

46 A kodachi | Attributed to Enju Kuniyoshi and with kinzogan [gold inlay] inscription by Hon'ami Koson and kao | Kamakura - Nambokucho period, 14th century

An important fine tachi | Signed Bizen no kuni Osafune ju Chikakage | Nanbokucho period, dated Ryakuo yonen shichigatsu (7th month 1339)

47 An important fine tachi | Signed Bizen no kuni Osafune ju Chikakage | Nanbokucho period, dated Ryakuo yonen shichigatsu (7th month 1339)

A Mino school tachi | Attributed to Kinju and with kinzogan [gold inlay] inscription | Nambokucho period, 14th century

48 A Mino school tachi | Attributed to Kinju and with kinzogan [gold inlay] inscription | Nambokucho period, 14th century

A katana | Signed Kanemitsu | Muromachi period, 16th century

50 A katana | Signed Kanemitsu | Muromachi period, 16th century

A wakizashi | Signed Soshu ju Ise Daijo Tsunahiro do Tsunayuki saku yorite Kagotani Takateru nozomu saku (Ise Daijo Tsunahiro and Tsunayuki made this sword at the request of Kagotani Takateru) | Edo period, dated Empo nana tsuchinoto hitsuji nigatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the second month, 7th Earth Goat year of 1679)

51 A wakizashi | Signed Soshu ju Ise Daijo Tsunahiro do Tsunayuki saku yorite Kagotani Takateru nozomu saku (Ise Daijo Tsunahiro and Tsunayuki made this sword at the request of Kagotani Takateru) | Edo period, dated Empo nana tsuchinoto hitsuji nigatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the second month, 7th Earth Goat year of 1679)

A wakizashi | Signed Banshu Tegarayama no fumoto Fujiwara Ujishige seitan saku (carefully forged by Fujiwara Ujishige at the foot of Mount Tegaraya in Harima Province) | The ura signed Otoko Masatoshi kore o horu (carved by Otoko Masatoshi) | Edo period, 18th century

52 A wakizashi | Signed Banshu Tegarayama no fumoto Fujiwara Ujishige seitan saku (carefully forged by Fujiwara Ujishige at the foot of Mount Tegaraya in Harima Province) | The ura signed Otoko Masatoshi kore o horu (carved by Otoko Masatoshi) | Edo period, 18th century

A daisho | The katana attributed to the Ko Uda School, Kamakura - Nanbokucho period, 15th - 16th century | The wakizashi signed Yamato Daijo Fujiwara Masanori, late Muromachi period, 15th century

53 A daisho | The katana attributed to the Ko Uda School, Kamakura - Nanbokucho period, 15th - 16th century | The wakizashi signed Yamato Daijo Fujiwara Masanori, late Muromachi period, 15th century

A katana | Signed Kashu ju Fujiwara Ietada (Fujiwara Ietada, a resident of Kaga Province) | Edo period, 17th century

54 A katana | Signed Kashu ju Fujiwara Ietada (Fujiwara Ietada, a resident of Kaga Province) | Edo period, 17th century