A Nimai-Do Suit of Armor. Edo period (18th Century)

A Nimai-Do Suit of Armor. Edo period (18th Century)

The entire suit lacquered gold and laced in white and red comprising a thirty-two plate iron hoshi kabuto with a four-stage tehen of shakudo and gilt, the helmet peak and fukigaeshi covered in stencilled leather, the gilt kuwagata-dai finely carved with scrolling foliage, the forecrest of a gilt shishi and with kuwagata, the bowl fitted with a gilt three lame neck-guard the lower part lacquered red with mokko and omodaka leaf family crests in gold lacquer, the fukigaeshi applied with shakudo dragon menuki; an iron face-mask fitted with a four-lame gold lacquered throat guard, with red signature of Fusanobu saku; cuirass a two-plate do of gold-lacquered honkozane (true scales), the upper part laced in red and the lacing forming a red sun against white on the lower part, with a kusazuri formed of seven sections of five-lame tassets, the lower parts lacquered in gold with the family crests on red base, the muna-ita, waki-ita and oshitsuke-no-ita lacquered in gold with scrolling foliages on black lacquer; the gyoyo covered with stencilled leather; o-sode decorated with gold karakusa on the black kanmuri-ita and with the gold lacquered family crests on a red ground along the bottom edge, with gilt-metal fittings; chain mail shino-gote sleeves with gold-lacquered rectangular and gourd-shaped iron plates on the upper arms lacquered gold leather thigh guards; iron splint gold-lacquered shin guards; with wood storage box. Estimate $20,000 - $25,000

Christie's. Japanese And Korean Art. 17 March 2009  New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christie's.com Image Christie's Ltd 2009