SAOTOME: AN IMPRESSIVE OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) AND SUJIBACHI KABUTO, WITH NKBKHK KOSHU TOKUBETSU KICHO (ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT) SHIRYO CERTIFICATE

The kabuto by Saotome Ietada, signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada
Japan, 18^th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

With a Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho Shiryo (Type-A Especially Important Object) certificate from the Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armor (Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai – NKBKHK), no. 2029, dated 14 May 2023.

The brown lacquered-iron components predominantly laced in blue, and fitted with kanamono with kiku (chrysanthemum), sakura (cherry-blossom), hanabishi, wood sorrel, and foliate design, as well as the Mitsumori Hidari Mitsudomoe mon.

The armor comprises:
Kabuto (helmet): A sixty-two-plate iron bowl with raised ridges, topped by a five-stage mixed-metal tehen kanamono, the lowest tier incised with foliate vines against a ring-punched ground, fitted with an agemaki-no-kan to the back, the mabisashi of typical form and surmounted by a metal maedate in the form of a butterfly, flanked by gently upturned fukigaeshi applied with printed leather and centered by the Mitsumori Hidari Mitsudomoe mon, above the orange lacing, and all above the five-lame jikoro. The kabuto signed Joshu ju SAOTOME IETADA [Saotome Ietada, Hitachi Province].

Menpo (Mask): A lacquered iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with pierced nostrils and an open mouth with red-lacquered lips, revealing a full set of shakudo-lacquered teeth, partially obscured by a stiff moustache, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles, the chin with ase-nagashi, and the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a four-lame iron yodarekake.

Do (Chest Plate): A purple and blue laced nimai do with seven sections of five-lame kusazuri, the chest with a pair of gilt-metal chrysanthemum-form age’maki (decorative tassel), below sinuous gilt and silver hirazogan dragons and reticulated plaques bearing kiku-embosses, the back similarly adorned with a third, larger age’maki and fitted with uke-zutsu (sashimono pole holder). The rims of the do in gilt-copper so-fukurin (ornamental border).

Sode (Shoulder Guard): A pair of six-lame sode with silvered kiku-form age’maki.

Haidate (Thigh Guard): A green-laced pair of lacquer haidate.

Kote (Armored Sleeves) and Tekko (Gauntlets): A pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko applied with several foliate kanamono in the form of kiku, sakura, hanabishi, wood sorrel, and foliate blossoms, as well as stylized mitsudomoe mon.

Suneate (Shin Guards): A pair of iron and kusari (chain mail) suneate.

Provenance: From a private collection in the Netherlands, acquired in Japan in 2016.
Condition: Very good condition with expected wear, soiling, and corrosion to the iron. The lacquer with age cracks, small losses, and flaking.

With an armor storage box.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related okegawa shichimai-do gusoku, the helmet by Saotome Ietada, dated to the 18^th century, at Sotheby’s, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, London, lot 16 (sold for GBP 114,300 or approx. EUR 140,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

---------------------以下為軟件翻譯，僅供參考---------------------