89 - MYOCHIN: A SUPERB OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH AN IRON KOBOSHI KABUTO WITH KUYO-MON

MYOCHIN: A SUPERB OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH AN IRON KOBOSHI KABUTO WITH KUYO-MON The kabuto by a member of the Myochin family, signed Myochin with kakihan Japan, 18 th-19 th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The armor comprises: Kabuto (helmet): A sixty-two-plate iron goshozan hachi (bowl) with raised ridges, finished with pointed rivets that decrease in size towards the top, and surmounted by a seven-stage metal tehen kanamono, the mabisashi of typical form with so-fukurin rims incised with foliate scroll to the edges and surmounted by a metal maedate in the form of Kuyo (Nine Celestial Bodies) mon, framed by kuwagata pierced with inome and fitted on kuwagata dai decorated with lotus blossoms borne on foliage, all flanked by gently upturned fukigaeshi applied with printed egawa (deerskin) and centered by ume (plum blossom) mon, above the five-lame jikoro laced in the kiritsuke style and with mimi ito on the edge of the lowest slat. The kabuto signed MYOCHIN with kao. Menpo (Mask): An iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with pierced nostrils and an open mouth with red-lacquered lips, revealing a full set of lacquered teeth, partially obscured by a stiff horsehair moustache, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles, the chin with ase-nagashi, and the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a five-lame iron yodarekake. Do (Chest Plate): A nimai do with seven sections of five-lame kusazuri, the chest with a pair of gilt-copper kiku agemaki-no-kan, the back similarly adorned with a third, larger agemaki-no-kan borne on a rectangular plaque with chrysanthemum blossoms on incised vines. Sode (Shoulder Guard): A pair of six-lame roiro-lacquered iron sode. Haidate (Thigh Guard): A roiro-lacquered pair of haidate with gilt tipped scales. Kote (Armored Sleeves) and Tekko (Gauntlets): A pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko. Suneate (Shin Guards): A pair of suneate. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, and expected flaking to lacquer. The suneate with extensive wear and losses to lacquer. With an armor stand and wood storage box (yoroibako) decorated to the sides with Maru ni Ken Hanabishi mon. Auction comparison: Compare a closely related Nimai-Do Gusoku armor, dated to the 17th-19th century, at Christie’s, Japanese Art & Design, 16 May 2012, London, South Kensington, lot 145 (sold for GBP 12,500 or approx. EUR 22,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).