Suit of armour
Myochin Shikubu Ki no Munesuke
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1681
Materials
Brocade, Hair, Iron, Lacquer, Leather, Silk, Silver
Place of origin
Tokyo
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1328746
Summary
Samurai armour. A suit of Tosei-Cusoko (Modern Armour) dated Tenna 1 (1681). The suit is comprised of a helmet (kabuto) with low rounded bowl (hachi) with a neckguard (shikoro). Mask (mempo) of iron with large bristling moustache of white hair and silver teeth with attached throatguard (nodowa). The body armour is made up of a curiass (do) of large iron plates with the central panel embossed with the figure of Fudo with a straight silver sword and rope with red lacquered flames and silver smoke. There are six tassets (kusazuri) in two parts. The arm protection consists of large shoulder guards (stode) of seven lames laced in kebiki. The pair of sleeves (kote) have tubular hinged forearm plates (tsutu). The leg protection is made up of thigh armour (haidate) in the form of a divided apron with panels of square plates. The shin guards (suneate) are made up of three joined plates with knee guard of brigantine and leather pads. The Boot guards (ko-gake) are of plates joined with mail. Fabric parts are gold, yellow and blue diapered silk brocade lined with white hemp cloth. This armour is the work of Myochin-Munesuke working in Tokyo in the last quarter of the 17th century and first quarter of the 18th century. Mountings and tailoring is the work of the Haruta School who specialised in such work.
Full description
Charles Paget Wade Notebook (1340945.3 / SNO.Misc.959.3) entry 376: 'Suit of Armour. Iron Helmet in form of a shell & horns formed of two fish diving at a bubble. The blazon of Prince TOKUGAWA & the Swastika ӿ Iron Mask with gold lacquer gorget – braided coral. Body piece of iron plates, with raised figure on Breast. inset with gold standing against a flower as No.367 pierced silver mounts. Tassels of black ‘comb’ lacquer braided with coral red at shoulder pieces which are very large. Sleeves of plate & chain over black & gold brocade. Apron of plates like bamboo – leg pieces of plate. & Bear skin shoes – incised signature on breastplate. A long sword in black & gold lacquer sheath. fr.London.' (sketch of blazon here)
Provenance
Purchased with 2 other suits for £20 by Charles Paget Wade from Liberty and Co., Regent Street, London, 8th June 1942. Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Makers and roles
Myochin Shikubu Ki no Munesuke