- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Throatguard, part of suit of Japanese armour. [El.B 12/4/2007]
- Long description
- Consists of lamellae lacquered black and laced together with black silk braid with patterned braid on the sides. [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 Silk Yarn Animal, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Braided, Process Perforated
- Dimensions
- Width: max 130 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1941.4.58.13
- 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