A SUPERB SILVER-INLAID GOMAI YOKOHAGI OKEGAWA DO GUSOKU (FIVE-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH TAKEDA CLAN MON AND A MYOCHIN KABUTO
Lot 118 - JPN1225

The helmet by Myochin Munetae, signed Myochin Munetae saku
Japan, 18^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The cuirass lacquered black, the sangu russet iron, all laced in blue with white and orange highlights, mounted on a fine silk brocade, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with hishi mon, associated with the Takeda clan, as well as the kiku (‘chrysanthemum’) design, the Imperial symbol of Japan.

The armor comprising:
A twenty-four plate russet-iron kabuto of shallow profile, terminating in a five-stage gilt tehen kanamono chiseled with chrysanthemum scroll, the mabizashi decorated with confronted phoenixes in flush-inlaid silver on a polished iron ground, trimmed in gilt-copper fukurin and finished with a two-part brass maedate formed as a Buddhist ken, flanked by ensuite fukigaeshi with printed leather and fitted with gilt heraldic crests of hishi, associated with the Takeda clan, and laced with an additional lame, all above the three-lame russet-iron shikoro laced in sugake style, the lowest lame applied with textured leather, the interior of the helmet signed MYOCHIN MUNETAE saku [made by Myochin Munetae]; the russet-iron Ryubu menpo with a removable straight nose plate secured by butterfly-shaped hinges, cast with an open mouth revealing the red-lacquered interior, scalloped flanges on the cheeks, the chin with a pierced ase-nagashi and straight cord peg, and fitted with a three-lame yodarekake; the gomai yokohagi okegawa do laced in sugake style and fitted with ten sections of five-lame lacquered-iron kusazuri, fitted with two kiku-form gilt-metal agemaki (decorative tassel) strung from en-suite cord rings to the breast and a third cord ring borne on a reticulated chrysanthemum plaque to the back; the six-lame chusode with kanmuri trimmed in gilt-metal fukurin chiseled with foliate scroll; the russet-iron kote with waffled Iyo-style plates on the upper arm, tsutsu-style plates on the forearms, and solid tekko, each decorated with flush-inlaid silver stylized dragons in clouds, and coiling vines; the haidate of close-fitting rows of russet-iron scales; and the tsubo suneate and the kogake decorated with clouds and scrolling vines in flush-inlaid silver.

Provenance: Bonhams, Arts of the Samurai, 26 October 2022, New York, lot 46 (estimated at USD 40,000-50,000). With an old label to the interior of the kabuto bowl’s ukibari lining identifying Munetae as the 27^th Myochin master.
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, corrosion, and soiling. The lacquer with age cracks, small losses, and flaking. Expected losses and rubbing to silver inlays.