Japan, dated 1613, Momoyama period (1573-1615)

The components laced predominantly in orange and fitted with gilt-copper hardware. The 32-plate hachi with shinodare to the front, back, and sides extending from the five-tiered chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, the mabizashi and fukigaeshi each with printed leather, the mabizashi fitted with a partially reticulated kuwagata dai decorated with chrysanthemums borne on dense foliage, the kuwagata pierced with inome design to the top, the fukigaeshi further applied with the 5–7 paulownia (go-shichi kiri) mon crest (associated with the Toyotomi clan) worked in gilt-copper against a nanako ground, and laced with an additional lame, all above the six-lame shikoro.

Inscriptions: Inscribed to the fukigaeshi Juhachinen rokugatsu 十八年六月 [The sixth month of the Keicho eighteenth year (corresponding to the year 1613).]

Inscribed to a plaque suspended from the agemaki-no-kan, Katagiri Katsumoto-ko go-shinjo, Toyotomi Hideyori-ko go-reiko 片桐且元公御進上, 豊臣秀頼公御靈甲 [A respectful offering (or presentation) by Lord Katagiri Katsumoto. The sacred armor (or spiritual armor) of Lord Toyotomi Hideyori]; the back Go-juho, Bugu no bu 御重寶, 武具之部 [Treasured Artifacts, Armor Section].

HEIGHT 29 cm, WIDTH 37 cm
WEIGHT 2,900 g

Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, traces of use, the leather with small losses and few minor tears, the lacquer with expected age cracks and minor flaking.

The wood storage box with three labels:

The first inscribed: Katagiri Katsumoto-ko go-shinjo, Toyotomi Hideyori-ko go-reiko 片桐且元公御進上, 豊臣秀頼公御靈甲 [A respectful offering (or presentation) by Lord Katagiri Katsumoto. The sacred armor (or spiritual armor) of Lord Toyotomi Hideyori].

The second: Go-juho, Bugu no bu御重寶, 武具之部 [Treasured Artifacts, Armor Section].

And the third: An official presentation gift from Lord Katagiri Katsumoto. Herewith described the record of the origin of the sacred legacy armor of Toyotomi Hideyori. Toyotomi Hideyori was born in Osaka Castle as the second son, but later succeeded as the heir to Toyotomi Hideyoshi in Bunroku 2 (1593). He was promoted to the fourth rank in the first year of Keicho (1596) and was bestowed the title of the second Gon Chunagon in the third year of Keicho (1598). In August of the same year (1598), he succeeds to the head of the Toyotomi Clan upon the death of his father (Toyotomi Hideyoshi). Maeda Toshiie was appointed as his supportive patron and Katsuamoto Katagiri on his side. This helmet was used by Katagiri Katsumoto when he fought with great success in the battle of Shizugatake in Tensho 11 (1583) and was later kept as a cherished hidden treasure. This helmet, with the mon (family crest) of the Toyotomi Family Paulownia design addition, Katagiri Katsumoto presented it to Lord Hideyori as the most venerable spiritual armor 片桐且元公御進上。豊臣秀頼公御霊甲之記。文禄二年豊臣秀頼公豊太閤殿下の御嫡子として大阪城に生る。慶長元年従四位下に叙し三年四月従二位権中納言となる。同年八月殿下薨ずるに及び家を嗣ぐ。前田利家公之を輔け片桐且元公傅たり。此の御兜を片桐且元公天正十一年賤嶽の役に於て奮戦大功被遊し時御使用相成るたるもの後御秘蔵被しが此のときにあたり且元公此の御兜に豊家桐御紋を付して秀頼公に御進上相成りたる最も由緒深き御霊甲なりと傅。

Toyotomi Hideyori (1593-1615), the son and designated successor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1585-1592), was a Japanese samurai and daimyo of the late Sengoku and Azuchi-Momoyama periods and regarded as the second Great Unifier of Japan. His mother, Yodo-dono, was the niece of Oda Nobunaga. When Hideyoshi died in 1598, Katagiri Katsumoto (1556-1615), one of the seven loyal vassals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi at the famous battle of Shizugatake in 1583 (Seven Spears of Shizugatake), was appointed the chamberlain of the Toyotomi household. The present kabuto, used by Katsumoto when he fought with great success in the battle of Shizugatake, was presented to Hideyori at the age of 20, to pledge loyalty and alliance at an important time in history.

The kiri mon (paulownia crest) was the private symbol of the Japanese Imperial Family, from as early as the sixteenth century. The Toyotomi clan, led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, later adopted the paulownia seal for use as the crest of his clan. After the Meiji Restoration, the seal was eventually adopted as the emblem of the Japanese government.