Nimai Dou Honkozane Gusoku - Complete Suit of Armour
Laced throughout with white doeskin, the helmet bowl akoda-nari (melon shaped) in style, the bowl composed of sixteen plates and mounted in sofukurin style (silver rope work over all the plate joints and koshimaki). A single shinotare (arrow shaped application) runs down the front plate, beneath which sits a small lacquered wood shigami maedate and three gilded iris leaves. The tehen kanagu (metal application surrounding the ventilation hole at the top of the helmet) of six tiers of mixed soft metals. The fukigaeshi (turnbacks) with gilded heraldry of possibly a branch of the Oda clan, the hineno shikoro (close fitting neck guard) of five lames of lacquered iron kiritsuke kozane (false scales).
The russet iron ressei men (mask of fierce expression) with a large, bulbous removable nose, moustache of animal hair and small yadome (ridges on each cheek to prevent the helmet cords from slipping), the interior lacquered red, the tare (throat guard) of five lames of lacquered iron kiritsuke kozane.
The cuirasse of lacquered iron honkozane (real scales), with a small purple hanagami bukoro (pouch) of imported rasha, the muna-ita (top part of breast plate) mounted with two more heraldic crests, the kusazuri (skirt) composed of seven divisions each of five lames of leather honkozane.
The sode (shoulder guards) of seven lames of lacquered iron kiritsuke kozane.
The haidate (thigh guards), shino gote (sleeves) and shino suneate (shinguards) of chainmail with kakushi gusari weave.
Housed in a paulownia wood storage box.
18th Century
£POA
It is likely that the helmet bowl has been remounted from the late 16th century for this armour which was not an uncommon occurrence.