ARMOUR : Tetsu daienzan 18 ken o-boshi uchidashi murasaki ito odoshi Yoroi.

Do and Suneate signed by the Myochin armour maker Myochin MUNESUKE.

AGE : Dated mid Edo period (1717)

CONDITION : The present state of preserve of this armour is clearly representative of this armours original early 18th century manufacture, with the set being free of later period and or post Edo period maintenance and or alterations that can be seen.

KABUTO : A gorgeous Nambokucho period style hachi with 18 plates daienzan o-boshi Hachi. The 18 iron plates forming the hachi are each fastened by 10 o-boshi rivets which decrease in size as they approach the apex of the helmet bowl. A massive five stage gilded copper hachimaza tehen no kanamono device with pierced inome and decorative etching surmounts the hachi. The hachimanza is of the large aperture style typical of those on Nambokucho and early Muromachi kabuto bachi.The tehen measures 3,20cm cross and the entire hachimanza 8cm.

The hachimanza is perfectly fitted to the curvature and individual suji flanges of the helmet bowl. A rear agemaki no kan kanamono swivel ring has been affixed and sports an original period silk agemaki bow, which remains in overall excellent order.

Four gilded copper hibiki-no-ana fixtures inset into the hachi at approximately the middle-plate of the helmet bowl. Dai-shinodare ornamental bands are laid over the front with tree spear shaped ornament and two for the back of the hachi

Mabizashi visor is covered with two styles of stencilled doe skin leather and trimmed with silk braid cord. A wide silver alloy gilded copper fukurin moulding decorates the outer edge of the visor. A very large and ornately crafted pierced metal work kuwagata-dai has been affixed to the mabizashi.The scrolling chrysanthemum motif is highlighted by large etched kiku-byo rivets. The kuwagata-dai also features a silver alloy finish and sport a bakudan, lacquered over gold leaf backing plate to further highlight the details of the pierced metal work.

A large jikoro with prominent and deeply turned one lame fukigaeshi has been affixed to the koshi-maki.The fukigaeshi have been faced with stencilled doe skin leathers. On each of the fukigaeshi there is a Mon of sumi-kiri gaku ni mitsu no ji of the INABA Daimyo family.

The main leather sections feature an unique e-gawa pattern which was most likely custom ordered for the manufacture of this gusoku, the pattern design decorate numerous areas of this armour. The patterned silk cloth wrapped odoshi kebiki odoshi lacing remains in overall excellent order. Four silver alloy gilded kanamono of very hight quality work decorate the upper shikoro lame and tree similar but larger in shape for the lower shikoro lames. Original skeleton lining ukebari made from gold leaf faced leather remains in overall excellent order for its age. Custom order stencilled e-gawa doe-skin leather decorate the underside of the mabizashi and underside edges of the koshi.maki. the leather remains in excellent order and is identical to that used in the assembly of several other individual parts of this very fine armour. The original chirimen crape silk shinobi-no-o remains full length, though it has worn and frayed in a number of places.

A large, flying dragon maedate fixture which is perfectly fitted to the tsunamoto device of the kuwagata-dai came with this armour.

The dragon has been carved from wood and remains in excellent order. It appears to have glass eye coverings and has been inset with metal whiskers. The maedate comes in its own wood box for safe storage.

A very similar half section maedate example can be seen on the facing page of page 57 of the Russell Robinson text “the manufacture of armour and helmets in the 16th century Japan”.

The maedate remains in excellent condition.

MENGU : A classic tetsu ressei men which again is accredited to be the work of the 24ft Myochin Munesuke, though the mask is itself unsigned. A heavy mask with a fine patina and many features typical of a quality ressei men, including prominent yadome flanges and chotsugai hinged nose guard covering plate. The nose plate has been very well embossed to produce a bold and prominent nose which features large nostril piercing and a cleft upper lip plate. deap chin embossing highlighted by the smooth contours of the embossed jaw outline. Full size ear guard covering plates with pierced metal work openings in a stylised floral design. A solid inset tubular has ase nagashi no ana set into the underside of the jaw. Shu urushi nuri interior lacquer finish in overall excellent original period condition. Four plate yodare kake laced in the kebiki style. Tree silver alloy gilded kanamono of very hight quality work decorate the lower yodare kake lames.

NODOWA : A superb example of full wrap neck guard nodowa of the komori-tsuke type. Reverse side face of komori zuke covered with the same identical custom order e-gawa leather material used throughout the construction of this fine armour to cover an internal or reverse side faces. Braided silk cord detailing and stencilled doe skin edge trims. 2 throat guard plates with kinpaku oshi finish and affixed kanamono fixtures. A agemaki no kan kanamono swivel ring has been affixed and sports an original period silk agemaki bow, which remains in overall excellent order.

DO : An outstanding authentic example of a mid-Edo period iron uchidashi-do type with the top of the breastplate mune-ita of the non articulated type covered with shoheigawa leather, there is a Mon of sumi-kiri gaku ni mitsu no ji, the same style mune-ita is fixed on the back plate, the uppermost section of the iron breastplate and back plate has been finished with a rim fukurin of brass which has been engraved with ivy pattern, the same pattern is seen on the top of the mune-ita back and front. The front iron plate has a superb embossed curled around dragon of exquisit quality and illustrates the skill in embossing iron of the armour master for which he was well known. On the front plate of the do on the left side of the embossed dragon there is a long chiselled signature;

“Nippon Yuiitsu Katchu Ryoko Masada Myochin Osumi (no) Kami Kino MUNESUKE Kao” and on the right side the date “Kyoho ni Hinoto-tori nen Hachi gatsu kisshin Gyonen shichijûroku sai”.

Premier Armor Expert of Japan Myochin MUNESUKE

Dated : Kyoho 2nd year 8th month ( august 1717 ) when he was 76 years old.

The shoulder strap guards gyoyo are covered with two styles of stencilled doe skin leather and trimmed with silk braid cord. A wide silver alloy gilded copper fukurin moulding decorates the outer edge of the two gyoyo and in the center there is a Mon of sumi-kiri gaku ni mitsu no ji of the INABA Daimyo family.

The interior of the cuirass has been covered in gold laquer has all the inner parts of this fine gusoku. All of the original kohaze and seem kohaze toggles are still present and in excellent order.

Nine detachable kusazuri in 5 laquered iron plates of wich the lower plate has 2 silver alloy gilded kanamono of very hight quality work. Udder the kusazuri there is a set of 2 times 3 protections, this device protects from objects such as arrows or other similar weapons.

SANGU : A beautiful high quality matched sangu set, featuring extensive use of silk brocade cloth. The kote are made in the classic shino-gote style. Quite unique is the fish scale plates covering the shoulders which gives more freedom movements of the arms. The iron plates have been connected by sections of chain mail link which are again covered by the external cloth material, as are the hiji-gane elbow plates. Stencilled dou skin lined tekko and edge trims all in excellent order as is the high quality silk cloth shell material and inner cloth liners.

The superb kaware haidate panel which feature lacquered iron scales thigh guard panels. Well preserved stencilled doe skin with silk braid edging. Shell material in overall excellent order as is the lining. The waist belt ties remains full length and in overall very good order.

Stunning iron o-tate-age suneate with the exaggerate outer knee guards flanges as was popular on important Kamakura period armour. Six plate constructions with embossed tate-age plates all of which have been inner lacquered and liberally covered in kinpaku oshi, or applied gold leaf. The left suneate has a inscription engraved on the inner centre top plate “Kyoho ni Hinoto-tori nen Hachi gatsu kisshin Gyonen shichijûroku sai”. Kyoho 2nd year 8th month ( august 1717 ) when he was 76 years old, and in the inner right suneate “Myochin Osumi (no) Kami Kino MUNESUKE”.

Original tie cords still present and secure though gain the external silk sheaths have worn and frayed with age constants with the overall age of this armour when taking this material into account.

Matching silk cloth backings to the rest of the sangu is in overall excellent order.

Superb lacquered iron 7 plates o-sode with stencilled leather facings and backing sections. Liberally decorated with tree silver alloy gilded kanamono of very high quality work decorate the lower o-sode lame and tree similar but smaller in size for the upper plate, the fourth lame has a spectacular mizunomi-no-kan from which the sodefusa are attached to the agemaki on the back of the do. Original silk sode-himo cords present and in excellent condition.

BUKURO : This amazing armour also comes with its original period silk storage bags for the individual component pieces of this gusoku.

The silk cloth storage bags for this armour are again one of those nice historical features that says a great deal about the overall condition and state of preserve that this armour enjoyed over the past few centuries.

Largely an item totally forgotten and almost entirely overlooked by modern collectors and even most literature on the subject, such items were once a common feature to almost all armours. That those have stayed intact and are still present with the original armour they were made for shows that this set has been stored and preserved with great care. Each bag is individually sized to receive a specific item of this armour, one for the mempo, one for the nodowa, two for the kote, one for the haidate, two for the sode, two for the suneate, nine for the kusazuri, one for the under kusazuri, then there is two square’s one large for the do parts and one smaller for the kabuto.

The bags being made of silk remains in excellent order, though some have worn slightly and or torn in a few places as could only realistically be expected for materials such as this and of this age.

HITSU : This wonderful bitsu is a superb example of the armour storage cases originally required to store an yoroi. The size is 76cm high by 48cm by 46cm.

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Myochin Munesuke ( 1643 - 1735 ? ) JO-JO I

Myochin Munesuke is identified as the 24th Myochin master in the Myochin genealogy.

His impressive document he authored in collaboration with his grandfather Myochin

Kunimichi ; observing that the Honami family had size long time issued certificates evaluating swords, he adapted the practice for use by the Myochin armour makers. Whereas the Honami issued certificates evaluating all important swords, the Myochin only certified that an armour was the product of one of their ancestors. To facilite there attributions it was necessary to compile a genealogy. An impressive document, a chronicle of the achievements of the Myochin extending back to the threshold of recorded history. To perform properly in his duties in the certification of armour, Munesuke assumed the title of Premier Armour Expert of Japan. His work is distinguished by the ability to make the best features of the work of his ancestors Nobuiye and Yoshimichi and combine them. Although not the first of the Myochin to work in the embossment of armour, it is thought by many that the work of Munesuke represents the finest of that genre.

There is a fine uchidashi armour (embossed armour) made by Myochin Munesuke in the Metropolitan Museum in New-York. The Mene collection, Paris 1913 also have some armour and parts of armour made by Munesuke. Those armours display the skill of Munesuke in the embossment of the Do, Sode and Haidate.

HISTORICAL : Originally this superb armour was clearly the property of a Daimyo of the Inaba family. The sumi-kiri gaku ni mitsu no ji mon of the INABA family is seen on several parts of this armour

The INABA clan were a samurai group which rose to prominence in the Sengoku period (1392 -1573) and the Edo periods. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, the Inaba, as hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa clan, were classified as one of the fudai daimyō clans.

The Inaba clan originated in 16th century Mino Province. and claimed descent from Kōno Michitaka (d. 1374), who claimed descent from Emperor Kammu (736–805).

Cadet lines

A cadet branch descended from Inaba Masanari (1571-1628), who fought in the armies of Oda Nobunaga and then Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This branch of the Inaba was created in 1588. In 1619, following the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate, Inaba Masanari was forced to divorce his wife, in order for her to become the wet-nurse of future Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu (Kasuga-no-Tsubone. He was granted Itoigawa Domain (25,000 koku) in Echigo Province in return; then, in 1627, his holding was transferred to Mōka Domain (65,000 koku) in Shimotsuke Province. His descendants resided successively at Odawara Domain (105,000 koku) in Sagami Province from 1632 through 1685, at Takata Domain in Echigo province from 1685 through 1701, and at Sakura Domain in Shimōsa Province from 1701 through 1723. Inaba Masanari's heirs settled at Yodo Domain (115,000 koku) in Yamashiro province from 1723 through 1868. The head of this clan line was ennobled as a viscount in the Meiji period (1868.1912).

The scale upon which the work of the armor maker is grade is as follows.

SAI JO I = SUPERB. Only the work of 3 armor makers ;

Myochin NOBUIYE

Myochin YOSHIMICHI

Myochin TAKAYOSHI

JO JO I = EXCELLENT. Only 10 %

JO I = VERY GOOD 62 %

CHU I = GOOD. 14 %

Not rated = 11 %