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

Kabuto [helmet]:

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 orange braid, gilt metal maedate [forecrest] in the form of a further katabami mon

Mempo [face mask]:

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

Do [cuirass]:

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 tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt]

Sode, kote [shoulder guards and sleeves]:

Six-tiered sode [shoulder guards] decorated in blue and white lacing with crossed axes, chainmail kote with blue linen lining

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

Kawara haidate with black lacquer and blue linen lining, shino suneate [shin guards]

Accessories: 

Accompanied 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.