Beschreibung:

A SAMURAI SUIT OF ARMOUR OF HISHINUI DO TYPE (LACQUERED LEATHER ON IRON PLATES WITH A X LACE) Japan, Edo period, Most probably dated to the late 18th century of the helmet (kabuto): The kabuto is of kawa bachi type in lacquered nerigawa with thirty two suji. The tehen kanamono is of agedama type (five different levels). A pair of wrought iron wakidate enhances the two sides of the helmet and bears a pair of hare's ears made up of gilt lacquer and hairs. An orikugi for the maedate is affixed to the front part of the helmet. To the front part of the helmet, at the base of the hachi, there is a lacquered wrought iron mabezashi fixed by three sanko no byo. The mabezashi is of medieval type (nobu type). A lacquered wrought iron shikoro (neck protection) is affixed to the mabezashi. It is of kitsuke kozane type and it is laced in kebiki (horizontal lace) kon ito odoshi (night blue cord) but for the kesho no ita (the first plate on which the lace is in takuboby ito) to which are affixed large lacquered wrought iron fukigaeshi bearing the family heraldic crest (mon) of Clan takabayashi. To the inner part, the ukebari is still there. The type of kabuto's ties is by three (mitsu-tsuke). The soft leather rings (shindoi ne o) allow the fixation of the kabuto's cord (shinobi no o). This kabuto is a classical of the Iwai School, whose specialty was since the 17th century to combine wrought iron and nerigawa. of the mask (mempo): The mempo is made up of lacquered wrought iron. It is of martial type (ryubu) with a removable nose. It bears a mustache made up of hairs. The mouth is widely open with visible teeth. The yoredake (gorget) does comprise five plates in kitsuke kozane and laced in kebiki kon itodoshi. of the breastplate (do): The front part of the do is made up of eight plates (excluding the tate age, the plate on which are attached the removable watagami), of itamono type (plain iron) and of tsure yamamichi style. They all are lacquered in swanuri and are affixed in ishinui. The two other plates are in kittsuke kazane and are laced in kebiki kon ito odoshi. On the first front plate, below the tateage, is affixed a sahai tsukeno kwan (sahai's hanging ring). The back part of the do is made up of nine plates plus the tate age, seven being identical to the six ones of the front part and idem for the two last ones. of the sangu set: There is an oattari (stirrup) within which is an ukezutsu (place for the sashimono to the middle part and the lower part of the back of the do) on the back of the do as well as a machi uke. To the lower part of the back of the do are affixed six faces of yurigi ito to which are affixed on each five kusazeri (tassets) in kittsuke kozane and roiroi lacquered as well as laced in kebiki konito odoshi. The last kusazuri is adorned with hairs. A pair of sode of chu sode type and protecting the kote (sleeves) are in itamono kittsuke kozane and roiro lacquered as well as laced in kebiki kon ito odoshi with six plates. The kote are of oda gote type with ikada, hyotan gane and hiri gane. All these pieces are linked together by a chain mail of kaushi gusari type and lacquered alike the kote. There are also tekko (hands protections) of yukibata and o yukibata type (wrought iron work rendering the shapes of the fingers) bearing the family crest (mon) of the clan. The haidate are of kusari haidate type in kaushi gusari. The suneate are of shino suneate type all linked together by a chain mail. The abumi zuri are made up of lacquered tanned leather. This suit of armour is accompanied by its carved and lacquered wooden maedate shaped as oni and dated to the Bakumatsu period (mid 19th century). It is offered at auction together with a nice karabitsu (transport box)of an unusual shape and with original iron fittings and lacquer. It is dated to the Edo period. Provenance: A curated selection of Samurai Art & Beyond from the Collection of a French Scholar assembled over years of thorough studies. +Important notice to the buy