A NIMAI YOKOHAGI OKEGAWA DO GUSOKU (ARMOR) WITH A KOBOSHI KABUTO AND RESSEI MENPO
Lot 111 - JPN0625

Japan, Edo period (1615-1868)

The gold and roiro-lacquered components predominantly laced in blue, mounted on a gold and blue brocade, and fitted with metal kanamono with foliate design as well as the sagarifuji (falling wisteria) mon, associated with the Fujiwara clan.

The armor comprising:
An iron koboshi kabuto with a sixty-two plate hachi finished with standing rivets and mounted with a five-stage chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, the lacquered mabisashi centered by the gilt-wood maedate in the form of a leaping moon rabbit, flanked by upturned fukigaeshi fitted with the gilt-metal sagarifuji (falling wisteria) mon, associated with the Fujiwara clan, all above the five-lame shikoro; the sabiji-nuri lacquered iron ressei menpo with a stiff mustache and chin tuft, the upper lip thickly lacquered red and the open mouth reveal gold teeth within, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles on the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a four-lame iron yodarekake; the nimai yokohagi okegawa do with black-lacquered kozane and gold lacquered iyozane, both kiritsuke, fitted at the back with an uke-zutsu, with seven five-lame kusazuri, a kiku agemaki (decorative tassel) strung from an en-suite cord ring to the front, above six copper medallions enclosing auspicious characters; a pair of five-lame sode; a pair of haidate; and a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko applied with foliate motifs, and a pair of suneate.

The do applied with six circular medallions, each enclosing a character. The six characters read as follows: hachi (eight), ten (heaven), haru (spring), shu (disciple or cultivation), hei (soldier or military), and to (battle or struggle).

Condition: Very good condition with wear, some soiling, and expected corrosion. The lacquer with flaking, age cracks, and small losses, some with associated touchups. Losses to the facial hair. Small repairs and touchups to the maedate. Small reinforcements with adhesive.

With a lacquered wood storage box (yoroibako) and armor stand.

The Fujiwara clan was a powerful family of imperial regents in Japan, descending from the Nakatomi clan and, as legend held, through them their ancestral god Ame-no-Koyane. The Fujiwara prospered since ancient times and dominated the Imperial court until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. They held the title of Ason.

Auction comparison:
Compare a closely related suit of armor with similar nimai yokohagi okegawa do with gold-lacquered iyozane, dated 17^th-18^th century, at Bonhams, 25 March 2010, New York, lot 2305 (sold for USD 27,450).