AN IMPORTANT NIMAI OKEGAWA DO GUSOKU (ARMOR) WITH AN IRON KOBOSHI KABUTO BY MYOCHIN NOBUIE
Lot 105 - JPN0625

The kabuto by Myochin Nobuie, signed Myochin Nobuie saku
Japan, 17^th-18^th century, early Edo period (1615-1868)

Of gold-lacquered honkozane predominantly laced in orange, the components mounted on a russet-orange and gold brocade, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with sakura (cherry blossom) and kiku (chrysanthemum) design as well as triple hollyhock (aoi) mon, associated with the Honda clan.

The armor comprising:
A sujibachi kabuto with a sixty-two plate hachi finished with standing rivets decreasing in size towards the top and mounted with a six-stage chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, the mabisashi with printed leather, flanked by the reticulated gilt-metal fukigaeshi with chrysanthemum blossoms borne on dense foliage and applied with a triple aoi (‘hollyhock’) mon, associated with the Honda clan, against a nanako ground, centered by a gold and red-lacquered wood maedate finely carved as a ferocious dragon flanked by kuwagata fitted on a reticulated kuwagata dai applied with aoi mons and kiku blossoms, all above the four-lame gilt-lacquered shikoro; the lacquered iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with an open mouth, below a stiff moustache, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles on the cheek, the chin with ase-nagashi, and the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a two-lame yodarekake; a two-lame nodowa; the okegawa nimai do with six five-lame kusazuri and three kiku agemaki (decorative tassel) strung from en-suite cord rings; a pair of six-lame sode fitted with kiku-appliqués adorned with cord rings; a pair of haidate; a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko fitted with sakura appliqués to the knuckles, the kote further applied with Mitsumori kikkou ni hanabishi mon, associated with the Nikaido clan; a pair of lacquered suneate; and a pair of kegutsu.

Inscriptions: The kabuto signed Myochin Nobuie saku 明珍信家作 [Made by Myochin Nobuie].

Condition: Very good condition with old wear and soiling. Small losses, age cracks, and expected flaking to the lacquer. The maedate with old repairs.
Provenance: Reputedly belonging to Lord Honda Tadatoshi (1820-1883), thence by descent. A Japanese deceased estate. A noted private collection, acquired from the above.

Honda Tadatoshi (1820-1883) was the 6th daimyo of Izumi Domain. He was the 4^th son of Honda Tadatomo. His wife was a daughter of Hori Naotada of Suzaka Domain. He was posthumously adopted on the death of his older brother, Honda Tadanori in 1860, and was received in formal audience by Shogun Tokugawa Ieshige. In 1863, he became jisha-bugyo and the same year was also appointed soshaban. In 1864, he advanced to the post of wakadoshiyori, but was dismissed only five months later. In 1866, he became wakadoshiyori, but resigned after ten months. In 1868, with the start of the Boshin War, he favored the imperial cause, but was pressured into joining the pro-Tokugawa Ouetsu Reppan Domei instead. As a result, the domain was invaded by the forces of the Satcho Alliance and Izumi jin’ya was burned during the Battle of Iwaki. Tadatoshi was forced to flee to Sendai. A few months later he surrendered to the Meiji government and was placed under house arrest, with the domain reduced in kokudaka by 2000 koku. He was released from house arrest in 1870 and his court rank restored. He died in 1883 and his grave is at the temple of Kofuku-ji in Mukojima, Sumida, Tokyo

Auction comparison:
Compare a related nimai do gusoku (initially erroneously described as Domaru), dated to the 18^th century with a helmet bowl from the Nanbokucho period, at Christie’s, 20 September 2022, New York, lot 111 (sold for USD 88,200).