Complete Samurai Armor of the Asakura clan - Edo period (1603-1868)

JAPAN - Edo Period (1603-1868).
Complete samurai armor.

KABUTO (helmet) in black lacquered wrought iron with ten plates.

THEHEN NO ANA (opening at the top) in gilded copper with four tiers of chased, openwork, patinated, and gilded copper; the first tier is decorated with foliate scrolls on a nanako background.

SHIKORO (neck guard) with four tiers in gold lacquered iron and blue silk braiding.

MABI SA SHI (visor) short in black lacquered wrought iron and highlighted with a finely engraved patinated copper band of scrolls.

FUKIGAESHI (wings) small in black lacquered iron decorated with the mon of the ASAKURA clan in chased and gilded copper.

MAETATE in carved wood and metal, silver lacquered, depicting a rabbit with red eyes and long ears in gilded copper. The motif: It features a Usagi (rabbit) with long, erect ears. In Japanese culture, the rabbit is associated with the moon and longevity. Because rabbits move quickly and never retreat, they were also considered symbols of agility and bravery for warriors.

The Mask (Menpo): This is a Ressei-men (fierce face) style mask, with a prominent bristling mustache and a chin piece (yodare-kake) with a matching navy blue cord.

It is made of black lacquered wrought iron, with a pronounced chin, a movable nose, a horsehair mustache, pierced nostrils, visible teeth, and a sweat hole under the chin.

The four-tiered yodare-kake (gorget) is made of gold lacquered iron and blue silk braiding. DO (breastplate) in eight gold-lacquered panels and blue silk braid, it is adorned front and back with a golden dragon coiled within a cinnabar-lacquered disc.

The cuirass is a Nuino-be dō, composed of interlaced horizontal scales (lamellae).

The focal point is a large circular Hinomaru (sun disk) painted in red lacquer. A gold-lacquered dragon is superimposed on this sun.

Symbolism: The dragon is a protector and a symbol of power, water, and wisdom. The combination of the dragon and the rising sun suggests a high-ranking owner or a costume commissioned for a ceremonial presentation.

Lacing (Odoshi): The scales are held together by navy blue silk cords, a color often chosen for its association with "victory" (katchū).

SODE (shoulder guards) with seven tiers of gold-lacquered metal and blue, white, and orange silk braiding.

KOTE (arm guards) made of chainmail and stamped metal plates with a brown lacquer finish.
KUSAZURI (skirt) and HAIDATE (greaves) with four rows of gold lacquer and light blue and pink silk braiding.
SUNEATE (greaves) made of gold lacquered iron plates and blue braiding on quilted blue fabric.
Sold with its display stand.
Dimensions of the armor in a seated position: 144 x 58 x 54 cm.

Additional photos and details available upon request.

Note: In Japan, samurai are commemorated every year, and many people and temples often preserve such armor for generations.

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