Lot 79
79
THE PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH LADY
A RED- AND WHITE-LACED YOKOHAGI OKEGAWA NIMAI DO GUSOKU ARMOR

EDO PERIOD (17TH-18TH CENTURY)

Details
A RED- AND WHITE-LACED YOKOHAGI OKEGAWA NIMAI DO GUSOKU ARMOR
Edo period (17th-18th century)
The armor comprising the sixty-two-plate hoshi kabuto with a shikoro (neck guard) of five sections laced to an upper section riveted to the brim of the bowl which carries the two shinra-nari fukigaeshi with stenciled leather and edged with variegated braid, the mabisashi (brim) black-lacquered, a large sun in gold lacquer on the front and extending to the mabisashi, the tehen in five sections with lotus and chrysanthemum surrounds in gold and alloys, the nimai okegawa do (two-piece cuirass) of five plates at front and seven plates at back, riveted and lacquered black, muna-ita of kittsukezane (serrated plate imitating a row of honkozane), the top section with stenciled leather, kusazuri of seven detachable sections, haidate (thigh guard) of black-lacquered leather rectangular honkozane on red silk finely embroidered in differing shades of red with cranes, the underside blue silk, hyotan-gote (sleeves with gourd-shaped iron components), o-sode (large shoulder guards), shino suneate (splint shin guards), the fukigaeshi (portion of the shikoro that turns back), mabisashi (brim), shikoro (neck guard), gyoyo, watagami, munaita, o-sode, shino suneate, all with leather stenciled with mo (water plants), edged with a complex of matching fine braid, and with dark copper alloy fukurin (rim edgings) engraved with scrolling with faded gilding, the fukigaeshi, gyoyo, and tekko (hand covers) all with gilt sori-rokkaku mon (crest with six curves)

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Emma Winder
Emma Winder
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Lot Essay

Striking for its red and white lacing and perfectly matching components of the highest quality, this armor was brought from Japan to Stokesay Castle in England in the late nineteenth century and has been preserved intact since that time. The silk on which the metal pieces are mounted is commensurate with the fine quality of the many components of the whole armor. Pieces such as the tassets of the kusazuri (skirt) are equipped with fasteners so that they can easily be removed to pack the armor away.

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