A RARE AND COMPLETE JAPANESE TATAMI-DO GUSOKU ARMOR

Iron, fabric, wood, leather and lacquer

Japan, Edo period

An impressive and complete armor set – the iron kabuto with five lame shikoro held together by blue fabric laces. The maedate of gold lacquered wood in the shape of a crescent moon. The hanbo of black lacquered iron with the inside lacquered in red and four lame yodare-kake (throat guards). The chestpiece ‘do’ with kusari (mail) with several arranged rectangular brown lacquered iron plates. The shoulder pads sode, forearm-guards kote with handguards all similarily arranged in kusari with iron plates. The thigh-coverings haidate with kusari with an iron chrysanthemum by the end, and the shin guards sune-ate with four vertical iron bands above a blue fabric with beautifully woven brocade pattern.


Shape: Complete tatami-do gusoku armor
Dimensions: 177 cm (height)
Condition: Good and complete condition with wear consistent with age and use (wear to lacquer, leather and iron), some minor losses
Provenance: Hungarian private collection

Auction result comparison: For a similar armor with red lacquered plates see Bonhams, Antique Arms and Armor, 11 May 2016, lot 2.