MIYATA KATSUSADA: AN IMPRESSIVE ROKUMAI DO GUSOKU (SIX-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) WITH AN IRON SUJIBACHI KABUTO AND MENPO
Lot 117 - JPN1225

The kabuto by Miyata Katsusada (1653-c. 1727), signed Miyata Katsusada saku
Japan, c. 1700-1720s, Edo period (1615-1868)

The brownlacquered iron components predominantly laced in blue, mounted on a fine blue fabric with Maruni chigai takanoa (‘two crossed falcon feathers’) crest, associated with the Kubo and Hidaka family, and fitted with intricate gilt-metal kanamono with kiku (‘chrysanthemum’) design.

The armor comprising:
An iron kabuto with a sixteen plate hachi with raised ridges terminating in a six-stage chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, to the back an agemaki-no-kan, the wide-brimmed mabisashi flanked by upturned roiro-lacquered fukigaeshi fitted with the Hoshi Umebachi (‘star plum bowl’) mon, associated with the Kuwana Domain, all above the three-lame shikoro, signed to the underside MIYATA KATSUSADA saku [made by Miyata Katsusada]; a brown-lacquered iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with an open mouth revealing the red-lacquered interior underneath a stiff moustache, the chin with ase-nagashi and straight cord pegs borne on rhombus grommets, all fitted with a three-lame yodarekake; a rokumai do with six five-lame kusazuri, fitted with two kiku-form agemaki-no-kan at the chest; a pair of six-lame sode; a pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko; a pair of haidate mounted on a beige and gold silk brocade; and a pair of lacquered iron and kusari suneate.

Provenance: From a private English collection, Heath House, Hampshire. By repute, acquired in Asia at the turn of the 19th century. The same collection includes a Louis XVI bureau plat which was originally the working desk of the French Emperor Napoleon III.
Condition: Very good condition with old wear, and soiling. The lacquer with age cracks, flaking and minor touch ups to the menpo and yodarekake. Tears to the fabric and lacing.

Miyata Katsusada (1653- c.1727) was the 6th master of the Miyata school of armour makers and trained in the Saga Prefecture (Kyushu). He later became retained by the Lord of Nabeshima and moved to Edo (Tokyo) in 1707.

Museum comparison:
Miyata Katsusada was an excellent armor maker, excelling in the manipulation of iron. For a related armor by the same artist bearing the coat of arms of the Feudal Lord Nabeshima Yoshishige, dated c. 1707-1730 see the Louvre Abud Dhabi, inventory number LAD 2018.007. Also compare a related iron do with an image of Fudo-Myo-o in the Walters Art Museum, by the same artist and dated 1721, accession no. 51.598.