EDO PERIOD (MAINLY 18TH CENTURY, MOUNTED IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, THE SLEEVES DATED 1791)

Comprising a good quality sixty-two-plate russet-lacquered hoshi-bachi (bowl with standing rivets), the lining undisturbed, mounted with a mixed metal seven-stage tehen kanamono (mount for the top of the helmet) and gilded copper fukurin (edging), the Hineno jikoro (close-fitting neck-guard of solid plates) of kiritsuke-kozane (false lamellae) lacquered black and gold and laced with dark blue hon-kebiki odoshi (close lacing), the maedate (forecrest) of a metal dragon between gilt kuwagata (stylized horns), the russet-iron mask of good form fitted with moustache and chin tuft, the teeth in silver, the five-tier yodarekake (throat defense) lacquered to match and laced in sugake (spaced lacing) style
The heavy do (cuirass) of nimai-tachi style in two pieces hinged on the left, constructed with iron hon-kozane (true lamellae) lacquered black and gold and laced in dark blue, all the solid plates covered in black and gold brocade; the kusazuri (tassets) of kiritsuke-kozane (false lamellae), the do fitted with an extra hinged plate to increase the girth, the kote (sleeves) of fine quality in tsutsu (tubular) style of crisp russet iron, signed Iwai...Yasumitsu zo kore and dated to 1790 with the place of manufacture partially hidden by a hinge, with black-lacquered kawara-haidate (thigh-guards) and a pair of tsutsu-suneate (shin-guards) mounted to match

Previously sold Christie's, London, 19 June 2002, lot 113