5th Dec, 2025 10:00
Fine Japanese Art
112
AN IMPRESSIVE PURPLE LACED KAGA STYLE SUIT OF ARMOR WITH SAKAI CLAN MON AND AN IRON ZABOSHI KABUTO AND MYOCHIN MENPO
€15,000
€30,000
A buyer’s premium of 30.00% (including VAT) applies to the hammer price of this lot if your bid is successful.
The menpo by Myochin Munehisa (c. 1640-1700), signed Kashu ju, Myochin Ki, Munehisa saku
Japan, 17th-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The lacquered components predominantly laced in purple, mounted on rich silk brocade, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with the Maru ni Ken-Katabami mon, associated with the Sakai clan.
The armor comprising:
An iron sujibachi kabuto with a thirty-two plate hachi, finished with standing rivets borne on foliate medallions, and mounted with a five-tiered tehen kanamono, the mabizashi and fukigaeshi applied with gilded leather, the mabizashi fitted with a large gold-lacquered leaping shishi maedate, the upturned maedate fitted with gilt-metal Maru ni Ken-Katabami mon, associated with the Sakai clan, all above the five-lame shikoro lacquered red to the underside; the russet-iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with flared nostrils and an open mouth, below a stiff mustache, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles on the cheek, the chin with ase-nagashi, all fitted with a four-lame yodarekake, the underside of the chin signed KASHU JU, MYOCHIN KI, MUNEHISA SAKU; the gomai-do decorated in black leather with seven five-lame kusazuri, applied with silvered foliage and two stylised agemaki-no-kan to the breast and a third cord ring to the back; a pair of sode laced with a single lame; a pair of haidate; a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko; and a pair of lacquered suneate with iron embellishments.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The lacquer with age cracks, tiny losses, and flaking. Expected rubbing and flaking to the gilt. Wear and minor losses to the lacing.
The Sakai clan was one of the principal fudai retainer families of the Tokugawa shogunate, serving Tokugawa Ieyasu from his early career and later holding major domains such as Himeji, Obama, and Tsuruga. Descended from Minamoto no Arichika and related to the Matsudaira, the Sakai produced several senior councillors to the shogunate. The Maru ni Ken-Katabami crest on this Kaga-style armor identifies it with the Sakai family, whose mon signified authority and loyalty. The Kaga style, noted for its fine lacquerwork, purple lacing, elaborate gilt fittings, and refined metal inlay to the do, reflects the exceptional craftsmanship fostered under the Maeda domain in Kaga Province. The fusion of Sakai heraldry and Kaga workmanship denotes an armor of high rank, expressing both the political stature and aesthetic refinement of a senior Tokugawa retainer.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related Kaga style suit of armor at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 29 March 2005, New York, lot 78 (sold for USD 42,000 or approx. EUR 60,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
The menpo by Myochin Munehisa (c. 1640-1700), signed Kashu ju, Myochin Ki, Munehisa saku
Japan, 17th-18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)
The lacquered components predominantly laced in purple, mounted on rich silk brocade, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with the Maru ni Ken-Katabami mon, associated with the Sakai clan.
The armor comprising:
An iron sujibachi kabuto with a thirty-two plate hachi, finished with standing rivets borne on foliate medallions, and mounted with a five-tiered tehen kanamono, the mabizashi and fukigaeshi applied with gilded leather, the mabizashi fitted with a large gold-lacquered leaping shishi maedate, the upturned maedate fitted with gilt-metal Maru ni Ken-Katabami mon, associated with the Sakai clan, all above the five-lame shikoro lacquered red to the underside; the russet-iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with flared nostrils and an open mouth, below a stiff mustache, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles on the cheek, the chin with ase-nagashi, all fitted with a four-lame yodarekake, the underside of the chin signed KASHU JU, MYOCHIN KI, MUNEHISA SAKU; the gomai-do decorated in black leather with seven five-lame kusazuri, applied with silvered foliage and two stylised agemaki-no-kan to the breast and a third cord ring to the back; a pair of sode laced with a single lame; a pair of haidate; a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko; and a pair of lacquered suneate with iron embellishments.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The lacquer with age cracks, tiny losses, and flaking. Expected rubbing and flaking to the gilt. Wear and minor losses to the lacing.
The Sakai clan was one of the principal fudai retainer families of the Tokugawa shogunate, serving Tokugawa Ieyasu from his early career and later holding major domains such as Himeji, Obama, and Tsuruga. Descended from Minamoto no Arichika and related to the Matsudaira, the Sakai produced several senior councillors to the shogunate. The Maru ni Ken-Katabami crest on this Kaga-style armor identifies it with the Sakai family, whose mon signified authority and loyalty. The Kaga style, noted for its fine lacquerwork, purple lacing, elaborate gilt fittings, and refined metal inlay to the do, reflects the exceptional craftsmanship fostered under the Maeda domain in Kaga Province. The fusion of Sakai heraldry and Kaga workmanship denotes an armor of high rank, expressing both the political stature and aesthetic refinement of a senior Tokugawa retainer.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related Kaga style suit of armor at Christie’s, Japanese and Korean Art, 29 March 2005, New York, lot 78 (sold for USD 42,000 or approx. EUR 60,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
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Auction: Fine Japanese Art, 5th Dec, 2025
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