Lot Essay
A similar armour by Munesada dated 1653 is in The Royal Armouries, Leeds.
![AN EXTREMELY FINE NIMAI OKEGAWA DO TOSEI GUSOKU [ARMOUR WITH SOLID PLATES ON THE CUIRASS]](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2004/CKS/2004_CKS_06915_0035_000(080750).jpg?w=1)
THE DO, SIGNED MYOCHIN OSUMI NO KAMI FUJIWARA MUNESADA AND DATED KEIAN [5TH YEAR 1652]
Details
AN EXTREMELY FINE NIMAI OKEGAWA DO TOSEI GUSOKU [ARMOUR WITH SOLID PLATES ON THE CUIRASS]
The Do, signed Myochin Osumi no Kami Fujiwara Munesada and Dated Keian [5th Year 1652]
The helmet, thirty-two-plate hoshi bachi [bowl with raised rivets] of russet iron decorated with a five stage tehen kanamono [mount for the central hole], the fukurin [edging to the plates] and igaki [shaped plates at the base] on four sides shinodare [spatulate plates] above engraved bonji [Sanskrit characters], the fore crest of a kuwagata dai and kuwagata [horns and stand], the neck guard of ko-manju [small rounded] type, a mask of iron russet lacquered and fitted with a black hair moustache and chin tuft, the fine do [cuirass] with the upper and lower sections of black lacquered hon kozane [true lamellae], the centre of russet iron vertical plates engraved with the signature and the invocations Hachiman dai Bosatsu, Amaterasu Kotai, Jingu, Kasuga dai-myojin, Nitten, Gatten, chusode [medium size shoulder guards] of black lacquered hon Kozane [true lamellae] and laced in mongara odoshi in blue mauve and white with the character Ri in a circle, mon [crest] of the Matsudaira family of Kameyama in Tamba, brown lacquered iron shino gote [sleeves], haidate [thigh guards] of black lacquered kiritsuke kozane [false lamellae] and back lacquered shino suneate [shin guards], all mounted on fine red and gold brocade, laced with dark blue kebiki odoshi [close lacing] and extensively mounted with shakudo and some gilded copper, most of the mounts bearing the Ri character, together with two gusoku bitsu [armour box]
The Do, signed Myochin Osumi no Kami Fujiwara Munesada and Dated Keian [5th Year 1652]
The helmet, thirty-two-plate hoshi bachi [bowl with raised rivets] of russet iron decorated with a five stage tehen kanamono [mount for the central hole], the fukurin [edging to the plates] and igaki [shaped plates at the base] on four sides shinodare [spatulate plates] above engraved bonji [Sanskrit characters], the fore crest of a kuwagata dai and kuwagata [horns and stand], the neck guard of ko-manju [small rounded] type, a mask of iron russet lacquered and fitted with a black hair moustache and chin tuft, the fine do [cuirass] with the upper and lower sections of black lacquered hon kozane [true lamellae], the centre of russet iron vertical plates engraved with the signature and the invocations Hachiman dai Bosatsu, Amaterasu Kotai, Jingu, Kasuga dai-myojin, Nitten, Gatten, chusode [medium size shoulder guards] of black lacquered hon Kozane [true lamellae] and laced in mongara odoshi in blue mauve and white with the character Ri in a circle, mon [crest] of the Matsudaira family of Kameyama in Tamba, brown lacquered iron shino gote [sleeves], haidate [thigh guards] of black lacquered kiritsuke kozane [false lamellae] and back lacquered shino suneate [shin guards], all mounted on fine red and gold brocade, laced with dark blue kebiki odoshi [close lacing] and extensively mounted with shakudo and some gilded copper, most of the mounts bearing the Ri character, together with two gusoku bitsu [armour box]
Provenance
Matsudaira family of Kameyama in Tamba
Takatsu family
Takatsu family
Exhibited
Kozu kobunka Kaikan Bunkazai Hogo Ho 50 Shunen Kinen, Nihon Kachu no Nagare [50th Anniversary of the Law Protecting cultural Assets, History of Japanese Armour], 10-29th October 2000, cat. no. 31, p. 25
Nihon no Katchu, Mononofu no Haresugata, Kishiwada Jo 400-nen sai Kinen Ten [Japanese Armour, Warriors Special Wear, Kishiwada Castle 400th Anniversary Commemoration Exhibition] Kishiwada City, November 1998, cat. no. 36, p. 41
Nihon no Katchu, Mononofu no Haresugata, Kishiwada Jo 400-nen sai Kinen Ten [Japanese Armour, Warriors Special Wear, Kishiwada Castle 400th Anniversary Commemoration Exhibition] Kishiwada City, November 1998, cat. no. 36, p. 41
Special notice
VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium