13th Jun, 2025 10:00
Fine Japanese Art
108
AN IMPRESSIVE MYOCHIN SCHOOL GOMAI-DO YUKINOSHITA GUSOKU (FIVE-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH AN IRON KOBOSHI KABUTO AND MENPO
Sold for €33,800
including Buyer's Premium
The do by Iehisa, signed Iehisa saku
Japan, 16th century, Momoyama period (1573-1615)
The roiro-lacquered iron components predominantly laced in blue, mounted on a fine pistachio green brocade, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with kiku (‘chrysanthemum’) design, the Imperial symbol of Japan.
The armor comprising:
An iron kabuto with a twelve-plate hachi finished in uchidashi (repoussé) with gently-raised rivets with shinodare extending to the front from the five-stage chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, to the rear an agemaki-no-kan, the wide-brimmed mabisashi centered by a gilt and roiro lacquered maedate in the form of crashing waves against the full moon, flanked by ensuite fukigaeshi trimmed in gold doeskin, all above the three-lame shikoro; a sabiji-nuri lacquered menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with an open mouth revealing the red-lacquered interior, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles on the cheek, the chin with ase-nagashi and straight cord pegs, the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a three-lame yodarekake; the gomai do yukinoshita with eight three-lame kusazuri, hammered to the front with a sinuous dragon clutching a flaming pearl, its eyes inlaid in gilt, below two kiku-form silver and gilt agemaki (decorative tassels), the back with a large agemaki; a pair of five-lame sode fitted with kiku-form cord-rings to each side; a pair of haidate; a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko; and a pair of iron uchidashi suneate with butterfly hinges. The interior of the do signed IEHISA saku 家久作 [made by Iehisa]. The maker is most likely Myochin Iehisa, who was active c. 1550-1600 (Haynes 01770.0).
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, corrosion, and soiling. The lacquer with age cracks, small losses, and flaking. Losses and soiling to the brocade and chain-mail. The maedate with old repairs and touchups.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related russet-iron uchidashi (repoussé) armor with a hammered dragon to the do, the do by Katsumasa, 18th century, at Bonhams, Arts of the Samurai, 27 October 2021, New York, lot 24 (sold for USD 47,813). Compare a related iroiro-odoshi nimai-do gusoku, the helmet signed by Myochin Nobuie, 16th century, at Sotheby’s, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, London, lot 24 (sold for GBP 239,400).
The do by Iehisa, signed Iehisa saku
Japan, 16th century, Momoyama period (1573-1615)
The roiro-lacquered iron components predominantly laced in blue, mounted on a fine pistachio green brocade, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with kiku (‘chrysanthemum’) design, the Imperial symbol of Japan.
The armor comprising:
An iron kabuto with a twelve-plate hachi finished in uchidashi (repoussé) with gently-raised rivets with shinodare extending to the front from the five-stage chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, to the rear an agemaki-no-kan, the wide-brimmed mabisashi centered by a gilt and roiro lacquered maedate in the form of crashing waves against the full moon, flanked by ensuite fukigaeshi trimmed in gold doeskin, all above the three-lame shikoro; a sabiji-nuri lacquered menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with an open mouth revealing the red-lacquered interior, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles on the cheek, the chin with ase-nagashi and straight cord pegs, the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a three-lame yodarekake; the gomai do yukinoshita with eight three-lame kusazuri, hammered to the front with a sinuous dragon clutching a flaming pearl, its eyes inlaid in gilt, below two kiku-form silver and gilt agemaki (decorative tassels), the back with a large agemaki; a pair of five-lame sode fitted with kiku-form cord-rings to each side; a pair of haidate; a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko; and a pair of iron uchidashi suneate with butterfly hinges. The interior of the do signed IEHISA saku 家久作 [made by Iehisa]. The maker is most likely Myochin Iehisa, who was active c. 1550-1600 (Haynes 01770.0).
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, corrosion, and soiling. The lacquer with age cracks, small losses, and flaking. Losses and soiling to the brocade and chain-mail. The maedate with old repairs and touchups.
Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related russet-iron uchidashi (repoussé) armor with a hammered dragon to the do, the do by Katsumasa, 18th century, at Bonhams, Arts of the Samurai, 27 October 2021, New York, lot 24 (sold for USD 47,813). Compare a related iroiro-odoshi nimai-do gusoku, the helmet signed by Myochin Nobuie, 16th century, at Sotheby’s, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, London, lot 24 (sold for GBP 239,400).
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