87 - AN OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH A MOMONARI KABUTO (PEACH-SHAPED HELMET)

AN OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH A MOMONARI KABUTO (PEACH-SHAPED HELMET) Japan, 18 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The predominantly russet-iron and black-lacquered components laced in white leather, mounted on fine gold silk brocade and fitted with kanamono with kiku (chrysanthemum), sakura (cherry blossom) and foliate designs as well as a Maru ni Hitotsu Uroko mon. The armor comprises: Kabuto (helmet): An iron momonari kabuto (peach-shaped helmet) with a prominent raised central ridge, flanked by dramatic black-lacquered wakidate (side crests) in the form of water buffalo horns, the mabisashi of curved form and embossed with stylized eyebrows, flanked by gently upturned fukigaeshi, all above the five-lame jikoro, applied with three gilt-metal stylized round kiku bosses at the top. Menpo (Mask): An iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with pierced nostrils and an open mouth, revealing a full set of teeth, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles, the chin with ase-nagashi, and the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a 4-lame black-lacquered iron yodarekake. Do (Chest Plate): A white-leather-laced russet-iron nimai-do with six sections of five-lame kusazuri, the back fitted with a sashimono gattari (sashimono pole holder). The do further enhanced with gilt kiku-ringed cord apertures to the chest and shoulders. Sode (Shoulder Guard): A pair of seven-lame sode, the kanmuri-ita (top plates) edged with gilt-copper borders and applied with a row of sakura-byo (cherry-blossom rivets) above a band of printed leather set with three gilt-copper plaques finely worked with foliate designs and applied with chrysanthemum bosses. The sides fitted with elongated foliate plaques and kiku-shaped agemaki-no-kan, the lower lame with orange lacing, and fitted with orange cords and tassels. Kote (Armored Sleeves) and Tekko (Gauntlets): A pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko applied with butterfly hinges, large fluted hyotan-gane (gourd-shaped plates), narrow iron plates, and kanamono with sakura (cherry-blossom) and myoga (Japanese Ginger) design, as well as Maru ni Hitotsu Uroko mon, associated with the Hojo clan. Suneate (Shin Guards): A pair of black-lacquered suneate. Provenance: With Ginza Choshuya, February 2016. A private collection, acquired from the above. Condition: Excellent condition with expected wear. Some light soiling, light surface wear to the metal fittings, occasional flaking and tiny chips to the lacquer. With an armor stand and wood storage box (yoroibako). Auction comparison: Compare a related white-laced domaru gusoku, dated to the 18 th-19 th century, at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 23 March 2004, New York, lot 317 (sold for USD 65,725 or approx. EUR 105,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). Compare a related gusoku with a kabuto bearing black wakidate simulating oxhon, dated to the 17th century, Edo period, at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 21 March 2012, New York, lot 906 (sold for USD 37,500 or approx. EUR 49,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).