1901.46.1.28.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Lacquered chest. Used to store armour. [BH [OPS move] 31/8/2017]

Long description

Lacquered chest. Used to store armour. Trapezoidal in shape. Two legs on one side, and a central leg on the other. Attached to the central leg is a hollow shaft that runs all the way up the side of the box, which a protruding peg slots in from the lid. Metal brackets on the corners, with perforated love hearts. At the front are two large looped hide straps, so the box could be carried on a back. On the left hand side is a small yellow metal hook. For the lid please refer to [1901.46.1 .28 .2]. [BH [OPS move] 31/8/2017]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Field collector Henry Martin Gibbs

PRM source Henry Martin Gibbs

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1901

Date collected

By 1901

Acquisition information

Donated: 1901

Materials and processes

Material Metal, Material Lacquer Varnish, Process Lacquered Varnished

Dimensions

Height: max 830 mm total, Height: max 602 mm, Width: max 510 mm total, Width: max 510 mm, Length: max 475 mm total, Length: max 475 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1901.46.1.28.1

Research and responses

From the diary (in a private collection) of Arthur Heathcote, who accompanied Henry Martin Gibbs to Peru in 1873: Just before we left Lima Gibbs had offered to him for sale a most curious suit of armour, which on finding that the owner was a gentleman in every way reliable who had been for many years in Japan he bought. It is said to be very rare & certainly most curious, I should much like you to see it & perhaps if you go to Tyntesfield after we get back, you may. The Chinese & Japanese are very numerous in Lima & one can get very pretty things in their shops - but (like everything else in Lima) they are very expensive.

Associated publications

Illustrated in colour on page 41 of Pitt Rivers Museum: An Introduction, by Julia Cousins (Oxford: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, 2004). Caption (same page) reads: 'Complete suit of decorative Samurai armour; made in Japan in the late nineteenth century.' [JC 8 10 2004]

Search terms: Armour Weapon, Clothing Handgear, Clothing Footgear, Clothing, Insignia, Box, Clothing Headgear, Armour, Helmet, Glove, Sock, Shoe, Jacket, Flag