Age: Momoyama Period. circa 1573-1603 (Hachi)
Mid Edo Period. (Gusoku)
Historical: Research indicates that this suit belonged to a Daimyo or other high ranking Samurai of the Tokugawa Clan. The Tokugawa clan was a powerful Daimyo family of Japan.
The clan rose to power at the end of the Sengoku period, and to the end of the Edo period they ruled Japan as Shoguns. All in all, there were fifteenTokugawa Shoguns. Their dominance was so strong that some history books use the term "Tokugawa era" instead of "Edo period".
In addition, the heads of the Gosanke the three branches with fiefs in Owari, Kishi, and Mito bore the Tokugawa surname. Additional branches became the Gosankyo: the Tayasu, Hitotsubashi, and Shimizu Tokugawa clans. Many daimyo with the Matsudaira surname were descended from the Tokugawa. Examples include the Matsudaira of Fukai and Aizu. Members of the Tokugawa clan intermarried with prominent Daimyo and the Imperial family.
Tokugawa's clan crest, known in Japanese as a mon, the "triple hollyhock ", has been a readily recognized icon in Japan, symbolizing in equal parts the Tokugawa clan and the last shogunate. In works set during the Meiji restoration movement, the crest is used to show the bearer's allegeance to the shogunate as opposed to the royalists, whose cause is symbolized by the Imperial throne's chrysanthemum crest.
Remarks: This is a beautiful Daimyo Grade period suit. This original matched period suit features a wonderful and flamboyant Kawari Kabuto in the shape of a "money pouch".
Kabuto: A Kinchaku-Nari Kabuto with a black lacquer finish. Intricately engraved fukurin trim caps the hachi on both sides and over the top edge.
A sugake odoshi laced hineno jikoro is fitted to the Kabuto and is attached by four gilded metal byo.
A kuro urushi nuri kiritsuke kozane komanju jikoro is fitted to the koshimaki of the hachi and has ornately engraved fittings. The fukigaeshi are capped in fukurin trim and feature solid thick and heavy kamon of the Tokugawa Clan. An extremely rare full length dragon with glass eyes fits the hachi perfectly. The
Ukebari is original and in overall good condition for its age. It has been detached slightly on the rear portion for someone to check for a signature.
The Shinobi-no-o is original and in fair condition with some detoriation due to wear and age and is full length.
Men-Yoroi: A beautifully crafted Ressei Men style menpo with
skillfully embossed facial contours, bold wrinkles and deep curved jaw-line. Odome posts are set into both sides of the menpo. Original lacquer finish is in very good condition with some minor loss.
The interior of the mask is coated with smooth cinnabar red lacquer and in very good condition.
The
yodare-kake is finished in gold lacquer kozane to match the shikoro of the Kabuto. It is of the "wrap-around" type known as
guruwa men. This is a very rare feature. Beautiful pierced metal work also accents the yodare-kake to match it's use throughout the suit. The lacing is matching and slightly worn because of age. The moustache is full and in excellent condition.
Dou: A beautiful hon kozane ni-mai Dou with gold lacquer and kebiki lacing.
The edges of the Dou are finished in a "twisted rope" style fukurin trim. A small portion is missing on one side.
All of its kohaze toggles are in good condition with some fraying and wear to the chest cords. There are two gold mutli-staged rings inset on both sides of the front of the Dou. The kohire is gold lacquered iron. The kusazuri is made of large gold lacquered kozane laced in the original matching color and in very good condition for its age.
Sangu: An excellent sangu set which are original and unaltered. The kote have been made in the rare yoshitsune style and feature kotebukuro which is the "bag" shaped potion at the top. It is lined with kusari or chainmail on the inside portion. The chainmail has separated slightly but can easily be stitched to be more secure. The tekko are in the form of namadzu with absolutely stunning engraved pierced metalwork called kiku no tachiki (chrysanthemum branches). The fabric is a beautiful silk brocade with gold threading that shows some wear from use and its age.
The kote and haidate have the original matched material lining.
The haidate is both unique and rare and clearly requires a higher degree of skill to construct. It is laced in the kebiki style with small sections of gold lacquered kozane. Each of those sections are in turn trimmed in the same metalwork that is found throughout the suit. There are doe-skin chikaragawa inserts with silk braid edge piping. The silk brocade with gold thread matches the kote and has some wear and tearing in small sections from age and handling.
The kuro urushi nuri shino suneate have felt cloth faced brigandine kikko inserts and tate-age knee covers divided into 3 sections. Dyed doe-skin edge trims and gold lacquered leather abumi gawa insets. In very good condition for their age with some wear to the silk ties.
Accessories: A beautiful Sai Hai with kamon and featuring wonderful lacquer work is included with this set.
