MYOCHIN: A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE PAIR OF IRON UCHIDASHI CEREMONIAL’SUSANOO-NO-MIKOTE AND DRAGONS’ ARMOR PLATES

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MYOCHIN: A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE PAIR OF IRON UCHIDASHI CEREMONIAL’SUSANOO-NO-MIKOTE AND DRAGONS’ ARMOR PLATES By a member of the Myochin family, signed Myochin saku Japan, 18th-19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) Of arched form, each plate is finely worked in repoussé (uchidashi) technique, the first depicting Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the impetuous brother of the sun goddess, staring into the waves where a dragon lurks. Susanoo is shown with scrolling locks of hair, pulled away from his face and secured by a comb. The second plate features a pair of confronting dragons, their sinuous bodies curling with detailed incised scales. Their fierce expressions, complete with scrolling whiskers and open mouths revealing sharp fangs, enhance the dynamic energy of the piece. Both plates are pierced with two apertures on the back for attachment or mounting. Signed on the Susanoo plate MYOCHIN saku [made by Myochin]. HEIGHT (each) 53 cm WEIGHT 1.3 kg and 1.6 kg Given the large size of these plates, they likely served as part of ceremonial armor, possibly intended as do (chestplates) or sode (shoulder guards). Alternatively, their striking visual appeal and exceptional size suggest they may have been conceived as decorative wall hangings, meant to showcase the Myochin family's craftsmanship and the dramatic mythological scenes they brought to life in metal. After his banishment, Susanoo-no-Mikoto came down from heaven to Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni (the earthly land of Japan), where he met an elderly couple named Ashinazuchi and Tenazuchi, who told him that seven of their eight daughters had been devoured by a monstrous serpent known as the Yamata no Orochi (eight-forked serpent) and it was nearing time for their eighth, Kushinadahime. Sympathizing with their plight, Susanoo hid Kushinadahime by transforming her into a comb (kushi), which he placed in his hair. He then made the serpent drunk on strong sake and then killed it as it lay in a drunken stupor. From within the serpent's tail Susanoo discovered the Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven, which he then presented to Amaterasu as a reconciliatory gift. Museum comparison: Compare a closely related breastplate (do), by Myochin Muneie, similarly decorated in uchidashi with a dragon, 36.8 cm high, in the Walters Art Museum, accession no. 51.595 Auction comparison: Compare a related Myochin school armor similarly decorated in uchidashi, dated 18th-19th century, at Christie’s, Arts of the Samurai and Japanese Art & Design, 7 June 2000, London, lot 38 (sold for GBP 42,300 or approx. EUR 93,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).

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