Suit of armour
- Place of origin:
- Date:
ca. 1538-1742 (made)
ca. 1538-1742 (made)
1538 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Yukiyoshi (maker)
Myochin Nobuie (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
The breast-plate (<i>do</i>) of a '<i>Yuki no Shita</i>' style of armour was originally plate metal; this example is of lacquered leather.
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
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This suit of armour with Sendai-style body armour is made of lacquered iron with metal details and fittings. It includes iron chain mail, patterned silk sleeves, and fittings of gilded metal, silver and the copper-silver alloy shibuichi.
This suit was mounted in 1742 for Date Yoshimura, feudal landlord, or daiymo, of Sendai in north-eastern Japan. The body-armour, influenced by European armour which was seen in Japan after about 1550, is typical of suits made for the Date family since the time of Date Masamume (1566-1636).
The two badges of the Date family, a circle with three bars and two sparrows inside a ring of bamboo, figure prominently in the decoration of both metal and silk parts.
A spare pair of small shoulder guards is also included.
Physical description
Suit of armour including iron chain mail; patterned silk sleeves and other details; gilded metal, silver and shibuichi fittings; two badges of the Date family figuring prominently throughout in the decoration of both metal and silk parts
[Armour] Gold-lacquered small-plates laced with silk; lacquered iron breast-plate signed Yukiyoshi
[Thigh protector] Lacquered iron leg guard
[Shin guard] Laquered iron leg-guard
[Shin guard] Laquered iron leg-guard
[Helmet] Lacquered iron helmet-bowl with gold, silver and shibuichi mounts, signed Myochin Nobuie and dated a lucky day in the third month of the seventh year of Temmon [=1538]; stencilled leather helmet peak and other details
Place of Origin
Japan (made)
Date
ca. 1538-1742 (made)
ca. 1538-1742 (made)
1538 (made)
Artist/maker
Yukiyoshi (maker)
Myochin Nobuie (maker)
Materials and Techniques
The breast-plate (do) of a 'Yuki no Shita' style of armour was originally plate metal; this example is of lacquered leather.
Marks and inscriptions
The two badges of the Date family, a circle with three bars and two sparrows inside a ring of bamboo, figure prominently throughout in the decoration of both metal and silk parts
[Armour] Breast-plate signed Yukiyoshi and dated equivalent to 1742
[Helmet] signed Myochin Nobuie and dated a lucky day in the third month of the seventh year of Temmon [=1538]
Object history note
The suit was mounted in 1742 for Date Yoshimura, regional feudal ruler (daimyo) of Sendai in north-eastern Japan. The Yuki no Shita style of armour was first introduced by Date Masamune (1567 – 1636), daimyo of Sendai from 1584.
Historical context note
[Armour] Body armour influenced by European armour which was seen in Japan after about 1550; typical of suits made for the Date family since the time of Date Masamune (1566-1636)
Descriptive line
Suit of armour with 'Yuki no Shita' style armour; lacquered iron with metal details and fittings, made between 1538 and 1742, assembled in 1742 for Date Yoshimura, regional feudal ruler of Sendai, north-eastern Japan
Production Note
Assembled and mounted 1742
Materials
Silver; Gold; Silk; Leather; Copper; Iron; Lacquer
Techniques
Lacquering
Collection code
EAS
