Shoulder protection, part of suit of Japanese armour. [El.B 12/4/2007]

Collection type: Object
Description: Shoulder protection, part of suit of Japanese armour. [El.B 12/4/2007]
Long description: A piece of brigandine armour which goes round the back of the neck, covers some of the back, forms flaps over the shoulders and meets across the chest were it is tied with dark blue silk cord. It is covered with dark blue textile with blue hexagons. [El.B 12/4/2007]
Geographical reference: Japan
Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan
Cultural groups: Japanese
Person: Field collector Henry Balfour; PRM source Henry Balfour
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1939?, uncertain
Date collected: ?By 1939
Acquisition information: Donated: 04/1941 Found unentered: Found unentered
Materials and processes: Material Textile, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Material Metal, Process Stitched
Dimensions: Width: max 330 mm across chest
Object numbers: Accession number: 1941.4.58.4
Research and responses: The following notes are drawn from research compiled by Andy Mills as part of the DCF Cutting Edge project in 2006-2007. This is a highly ornamental – and not particularly functional - suit of armour in the style of Unkai. Unkai was a school of armoury established in the mid-17th century by Unkai Mitsunaga – a master smith of the even more famous Myochin clan, who moved to the Kaga region of Japan and set up independently (Toraba.com website - http://www.toraba.com/menpo-0503-0547.htm). This is not to the standard of the master himself. Such armours were devalued after 1800, due to critical appraisal of their showy non-functionality, and so we can perhaps date this piece to somewhere between 1700 and 1800. [SM 09/05/2008]

Search terms: Armour Weapon, Armour

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