† MYOCHIN: AN IMPRESSIVE OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) AND TOKUGAWA SUJIBACHI KABUTO, WITH NKBKHK KICHO SHIRYO CERTIFICATE

拍品描述

† MYOCHIN: AN IMPRESSIVE OKEGAWA NIMAI-DO GUSOKU (TWO-PIECE CUIRASS ARMOR) AND TOKUGAWA SUJIBACHI KABUTO, WITH NKBKHK KICHO SHIRYO CERTIFICATE The kabuto by Myochin Yoshiomi (active 1843-1844), signed Myochin Ki Yoshiomi Japan, c. 1843-1844 With a Kicho Shiryo (Valuable Cultural Artifact) certificate from the Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armor (Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai – NKBKHK), no. 1089, dated 17 March 1991. The lacquered components predominantly laced in orange, mounted on blue brocade, and fitted with intricate kanamono with kiku (chrysanthemum) design, as well as the Maru ni Mitsuba Aoi (Circle of Three Hollyhock Leaves) mon, associated with the Tokugawa shogunate. The armor comprises: Kabuto (Helmet): A russet-iron thirty-two-plate sujibachi kabuto with a five-tiered chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, the mabizashi and fukigaeshi each covered with printed leather and applied with foliate studs, centered by the gold- and red-lacquered wood maedate finely carved as a ferocious dragon flanked by partially reticulated kuwagata dai decorated with chrysanthemums borne on dense foliage, the kuwagata pierced with an inome design to the top, the fukigaeshi centered by a metal Maru ni Mitsuba Aoi (Circle of Three Hollyhock Leaves) mon, associated with the Tokugawa shogunate, and laced with an additional lame, all above the three-lame jikoro. The underside of the kabuto signed MYOCHIN KI YOSHIOMI. Menpo (Mask): A red-lacquered iron menpo with a removable nose plate secured by turning pins, cast with flared nostrils and an open mouth revealing lacquered teeth, below a horse-hair mustache and above a goatee, designed with deeply embossed wrinkles, the chin with ase-nagashi, and the cheeks with bent anchoring posts, all fitted with a two-lame yodarekake. Do (Chest Plate): A nimai-do with six sections of five-lame kusazuri, the front and the back with gilt-metal chrysanthemum-form age’maki (decorative tassel), the latter borne on a gilt-metal plaque bearing chrysanthemum bosses on scrolling vines. Sode (Shoulder Guard): A pair of seven-lame sode fitted with crest-appliqués to the top and middle, and applied with chrysanthemum-form age’maki with decorative tassels. Haidate (Thigh Guard): A pair of gilt-iron haidate. Kote (Armored Sleeves) and Tekko (Gauntlets): A pair of gilt-wood and kusari (chain mail) kote and tekko. Suneate (Shin Guards): A pair of gilt-iron and kusari (chain mail) suneate. Kegutsu (Shoes): A pair of fur shoes. With an armor stand and wood storage box (yoroibako). In the mid-nineteenth century, the lord of the Tokugawa Mito clan, Tokugawa Nariaki, invited prominent Myochin-school armorers in Aizu province to promote the armaments of the Mito clan. Myochin-school armorers were known for their skill at forging and tempering steel. The artist who signed this work, Myochin Yoshiomi, became a pupil of the Mito Myochin school in 1844 and made the kabuto of this armor. Auction comparison: Compare a related gold-lacquer nimai okegawa do gusoku, dated 19th-20th century, Edo-Meiji period, at Bonhams, Arts of the Samurai, 21 October 2023, New York, lot 74 (sold for USD 19,200 or approx. EUR 18,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing). 13% VAT will be added to the hammer price additional to the buyer's premium - only for buyers within the EU.

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