- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Shinguard, part of suit of Japanese armour. [El.B 12/4/2007]
- Long description
- Consisting of long metal plates lacquered black, connected with chainlinks. The lower part of the inside leg armour consists of a patch of leather painted gold. Tied to the leg with yellow textile ties . [El.B 12/4/2007]
- Geographical reference
- Cultural groups
- Japanese
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1939?, uncertain
- Date collected
- ?By 1939
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 04/1941 Found unentered: Found unentered
- Materials and processes
- Material Metal, Material Lacquer Varnish, Material Textile, Material Animal Leather Skin, Material Pigment, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Tied, Process Painted
- Dimensions
- Length: max 250 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1941.4.58.9
- 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. The haidate (thigh-guard apron) underlying the kusazuri is constructed from red-lacquered rectangular iyozane, overpainted with a fleur-de-lis cross in gold lacquer. Although this symbol has been associated with the French monarchy for centuries, and it is not completely impossible that this was a presentation armour for a French royal, this symbol has an ancient heritage in Japan itself, and I have already detailed the associations of the Iris at considerable length above. Moreover, the armour is of rather mixed quality for a presentation. The kote are constructed of a grid of mail containing small plates on the shoulder, and shino splints on the upper and lower arms, over a fine textile base. The tekko (hand-guards) are of a simple 2-plate design, as is normally associated with retainer armours.
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