Samurai Cuirass

19879C

From: Japan

Curatorial Section: Asian

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Object Number 19879C
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Japanese
Provenience Japan
Date Made 18th Century - 19th Century
Section Asian
Materials Lacquer | Metal
Description

A two-section, or clam-shell, style samurai cuirass (ni-mai-do). The front of the cuirass is made up of eight horizontal lames while the back is made up of nine. Each iron lame is made up of many small, "true scales" (hon kozane) meticulously bound together to form a solid lame, first coated with red lacquer and then finished with gold lacquer. Lames are connected to one another with orange silk cords in the kebiki-odoshi style. A metal ring is attached to the right side of the second lame with a chrysanthemum base washer. The upper lames are attached to solid metal plates around the neck and arm openings which are used to attach other fixtures securely to the cuirass. Each of these plates is painted gold, matching the scales. The top lames of both the front and back have a row of orange, cross knot lacing above the rest of the lacing. In addition to the cross knots, six rivets, set in three pairs over decorative, gold, chrysanthemum, base plates help secure the upper plate to the top lame. This pattern is repeated on the back of the cuirass. A hinge on the left side of the cuirass allows it to open and close and a green tie on the right side secures it when worn.

The upper-most back plate (boko-no-ita) supports the shoulder straps (watagami) which reach over the shoulders to the front of the cuirass. Thick, orange cords line the tops of the shoulder straps. The upper-most front plate (muna-ita) supports dark brown toggles made of horn which secure the shoulder straps. Two armored pads (kobire or kohire) remain attached to the outside of the shoulder straps. The underside is of blue silk with gold brocade in a maple leaf pattern. The underside also has an outer, upper edge of three pleated red, white, and blue frills (keshi), an apparent consequence of European influence. The armored, outer portion is of hexagonal iron plates (kikko) beneath a top layer of tan leather and then orange thread is sewn through each plate. Black and white tweed thread is sewn around each plate to create a honeycomb pattern. An orange bracket (gattari) is attached to the back plate and serves to support a wooden rod which would hold a battle standard on the wearer's back. The wooden rod would extend down to the lower back where a small, orange cup (machi-uke) would receive it. Beneath the gattari is a large ring with mounted to a decorative plate. A large, orange, decorative bow (agemaki) hangs from this ring. Eight, five lame, pendant-like tassets (gessan) hang from the bottom of the cuirass. Lames get progressively wider as they advance down the gessan. The silk cords and the lacquered scales mirror the rest of the cuirass. The bottom lames are trimmed with black animal fur.

Credit Line Purchased from G. T. Marsh and Co; subscription of Mrs. Phebe A. Hearst, 1897

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