JAPAN - Late 18th century
Japanese armour of the *ô-yoroi* type. It consists of a two-part cuirass (*ni-mai dô*) and features gold lacquer, orange and multicoloured cords, and orange borders (*kin'urushinuri iroiro-ito hi-suso ni-mai dô tôsei gusoku*).
The armour includes a helmet (*kabuto*) of the *suji-bachi* type, formed of thirty-two iron plates. At the front is a pair of brass horn-shaped ornaments (*kuwagata*), framing a circular *maedate* (front ornament) bearing a crest (*mon*): a four-petalled flower inscribed in a circle (*maru ni hanakaku*).
The helmet is topped by a *tehen-no-kanamono* (decorative summit piece) in copper, in the form of a chrysanthemum flower with five rows. It has a neck guard (*shikoro*) composed of gold-lacquered lames, of the *kiritsuke-kozane* type, held by cords. The large side flaps (*fukikaeshi*) are covered in decorative 'smoked' leather and decorated with the same crest.
The armour is accompanied by a mask (*menpô*) in patinated iron, with clean features and no wrinkles. It has a removable nose, hooks for fixing the cords (*otayori*) and an opening for the evacuation of perspiration (*ase-nagashi no ana*). Beneath the mask is a throat guard (*yodarekake*) composed of five black-lacquered lames, linked by cords.
The shoulders are protected by large shoulder guards (*ô-sode*) made of six gold-lacquered lames, of the *kiritsuke-kozane* type, decorated on the sides with orange silk cords ending in tassels.
The arms are protected by various gold-lacquered elements, linked together by Japanese mail. Some of these elements take the form of gourds, which gives this type of arm protection the name *hisago-kote* (gourd-shaped armguards). The plate protecting the elbow takes the form of a chrysanthemum flower, while the hand guards (*tekko*) are decorated with various raised floral motifs. The whole is mounted on a navy blue embroidered silk ground, decorated with flower and cloud motifs.
The cuirass, composed of two parts and cylindrical in form, is made of horizontal gold-lacquered lames, of the *kiritsuke kozane* type (*kiritsuke kozane nimai-dō*), linked by orange cords and bordered with decorative leather known as 'smoked leather'. At the back, a ring holds a very large *agemaki* (decorative knot with tassels) in orange silk. Hanging from the shoulders are two matching elements: a *sendan-no-ita* plate (right side) and a *kyūbi-no-ita* plate (left side).
From the cuirass hang an oval copper ring and a protective skirt (*kusazuri*) divided into seven sections, each composed of five lames. One of the *kiritsuke kozane* lames is silver-lacquered, unlike the others which are gold-lacquered.
The thigh guards (*haidate*) consist of a wide piece of embroidered silk, dark gold in colour and decorated with floral motifs (later restoration), bordered with decorative leather known as 'smoked leather'. Each leg section has a wide gold-lacquered *kiritsuke kozane* lame, extended by three narrower strips, each formed of three lames linked together.
The shin guards (*suneate*), tubular in form, consist of vertical gold-lacquered metal lames, linked by Japanese mail (*shino-suneate*) and mounted on the same silk fabric as that used for the arm guards (*kote*).
The set is accompanied by a pair of storage chests (*yoroi-bako*) square in form and slightly domed, lacquered dark brown and fitted with iron handles allowing transport by means of a bar. They are protected by a black leather cover decorated with the same gold floral motif.
Total height (with chest): approximately 160 cm.
(Wear, restorations ...)
JAPAN - Late 18th century
Japanese armour of the *ô-yoroi* type. It consists of a two-part cuirass (*ni-mai dô*) and features gold lacquer, orange and multicoloured cords, and orange borders (*kin'urushinuri iroiro-ito hi-suso ni-mai dô tôsei gusoku*).
The armour includes a helmet (*kabuto*) of the *suji-bachi* type, formed of thirty-two iron plates. At the front is a pair of brass horn-shaped ornaments (*kuwagata*), framing a circular *maedate* (front ornament) bearing a crest (*mon*): a four-petalled flower inscribed in a circle (*maru ni hanakaku*).
The helmet is topped by a *tehen-no-kanamono* (decorative summit piece) in copper, in the form of a chrysanthemum flower with five rows. It has a neck guard (*shikoro*) composed of gold-lacquered lames, of the *kiritsuke-kozane* type, held by cords. The large side flaps (*fukikaeshi*) are covered in decorative 'smoked' leather and decorated with the same crest.
The armour is accompanied by a mask (*menpô*) in patinated iron, with clean features and no wrinkles. It has a removable nose, hooks for fixing the cords (*otayori*) and an opening for the evacuation of perspiration (*ase-nagashi no ana*). Beneath the mask is a throat guard (*yodarekake*) composed of five black-lacquered lames, linked by cords.
The shoulders are protected by large shoulder guards (*ô-sode*) made of six gold-lacquered lames, of the *kiritsuke-kozane* type, decorated on the sides with orange silk cords ending in tassels.
The arms are protected by various gold-lacquered elements, linked together by Japanese mail. Some of these elements take the form of gourds, which gives this type of arm protection the name *hisago-kote* (gourd-shaped armguards). The plate protecting the elbow takes the form of a chrysanthemum flower, while the hand guards (*tekko*) are decorated with various raised floral motifs. The whole is mounted on a navy blue embroidered silk ground, decorated with flower and cloud motifs.
The cuirass, composed of two parts and cylindrical in form, is made of horizontal gold-lacquered lames, of the *kiritsuke kozane* type (*kiritsuke kozane nimai-dō*), linked by orange cords and bordered with decorative leather known as 'smoked leather'. At the back, a ring holds a very large *agemaki* (decorative knot with tassels) in orange silk. Hanging from the shoulders are two matching elements: a *sendan-no-ita* plate (right side) and a *kyūbi-no-ita* plate (left side).
From the cuirass hang an oval copper ring and a protective skirt (*kusazuri*) divided into seven sections, each composed of five lames. One of the *kiritsuke kozane* lames is silver-lacquered, unlike the others which are gold-lacquered.
The thigh guards (*haidate*) consist of a wide piece of embroidered silk, dark gold in colour and decorated with floral motifs (later restoration), bordered with decorative leather known as 'smoked leather'. Each leg section has a wide gold-lacquered *kiritsuke kozane* lame, extended by three narrower strips, each formed of three lames linked together.
The shin guards (*suneate*), tubular in form, consist of vertical gold-lacquered metal lames, linked by Japanese mail (*shino-suneate*) and mounted on the same silk fabric as that used for the arm guards (*kote*).
The set is accompanied by a pair of storage chests (*yoroi-bako*) square in form and slightly domed, lacquered dark brown and fitted with iron handles allowing transport by means of a bar. They are protected by a black leather cover decorated with the same gold floral motif.
Total height (with chest): approximately 160 cm.
(Wear, restorations ...)
