A fine Nimai-do gusoku [armour] |The kabuto Momoyama period, late 16th century

The Property of a European Collector

A fine Nimai-do gusoku [armour]

The kabuto Momoyama period, late 16^th century

the akoda-nari suji bachi kabuto with thirty-two plates, slightly raised to the back of the crown, fitted with gilt-metal fukurin to all the ridges and pierced with boar’s eye (inome) openings, three-stage tehen kanamono in the form of a chrysanthemum, the four tier shikoro [neck guard] in vertical bands of red and gold lacquer, laced with closely spaced kebiki odoshi in alternating red and white braid, the later red and gold lacquer maedate [forecrest] in the form of an oni with two large horns, the red lacquer mempo with open mouth, broad horse bristle moustache and chin tuft, gilded teeth, four-tier yodare-gake [throat protector], the do [cuirass] in two sections, all in honkozane [true lamellae] in alternating vertical light red and white bands consistent with all other parts, applied with nanatsuboshimon [Seven Luminaries crest], two-tiered nodowa [throat guard], seven tier sode [shoulder guards] with the right sode in red lacquer and light red braid, the left in gold lacquer and white braid, the mail kote [sleeves] pierced to each with aoi mon [hollyhock crests], six tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt], the underskirt decorated with bands of seigaiha, large floral heads and sprays, with shinosunaete [shin guards], accompanying later black lacquer karabitsu [storage chest]