Suit of armour
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1725 - 1750
Materials
Brocade, Bronze, Copper, Gilt, Lacquer, Leather, Silk, Velvet, Wood
Place of origin
Japan
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1328749
Summary
Samurai armour. A suit of Mogami-Do (solid plate Do-Maru) consisting of a Helmet (Kabuto) with a regular peak covered with leather, a horn and forecrest socket of Shakudo with gilt Mon in the centre. The low Tehen-Kanamono (top ornament) is of six stages. there is an attached small rounded neckguard (Ko-Manju) of five plates of true Kuzane laced in Kebiki. Small leather covered Fukigayeshi with Mon. The skull bears the signature of Neo Masanobu, a skilful smith of Nara city. there is a brown iron mask (Mempo) with attached throatguard (Nodowa). The two large shoulder guards (Stode) have seven lames laced in Kebiki. The pair of sleeves (Kote) are in the Shino-Gote style with Chrimen Namba Gusari. The curiass (Do) is built up of solid plates each hinged in four places. The plates are splashed with white bronze. Short upper ones on breast and back are laced in Kebiki and the lower in Sugake with their upper edges cut in Tsure-Yamamichi (separated mountain paths) and fitted with gilt edgings (Fukurin). There are Seven Kusazuri laced in Kebiki of five lames with pockets of purple cut velvet behind the front two, with Fukurin on the bottom edge of the lowest plates. The thigh armour (Haidate) is in the form of a divided apron with floral brocade and the armoured area covered with four rows of lacquered Kawara. The shin guards (Suneate) are of the Shino-Suneate style with Splints and brigandine knee guards. There is also a pair of associated boots.
Full description
Charles Paget Wade notebook entry no. 369 (1340945.3 / SNO.MISC.959.3): 'Suit of Armour. Iron Helmet. 116 plates with neck guard medium wings – horns & Blazon of SOMA. Body piece (sketch of detail here) upper part of ‘Comb’ lacquer. Below horizontal plates of iron. The upper edges shaped & finished with gold strips the surface of the iron is worked up into innumerable little irregularities & finished black. Sleeves of gold & green brocade, with elaborate plate & mail with 2 pair of shoulder guards on a large, one large of ‘comb’ lacquer + a smaller pair of iron plates. Apron piece of brocade & plaques of black lacquer. Leg guards of chain & plate. the suit is braided with green. Staff of rank. A long spear. Haft set with mother o’pearl. Curved blade. fr. Wymondham.'
Provenance
Purchased by Charles Paget Wade from Wymondham, Norfolk. Possibly 1 of 2 purchased from A. Standley, Market Place, Wymondham in 1940 (2nd suit is 1328762 / SNO.A.68). Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.