A BLACK-LACQUER DO-MARU ARMOR WITH A MYOCHIN-SCHOOL HELMET
Helmet attributed to Muneyasu (Myochin Muneyasu), Muromachi period, 15th-16th century, armor Edo period (18th century)
The suit constructed of lacquered-leather scales and elegantly laced in white, green and orange in vertical configuration, comprising a sixteen-plate russet-iron suji kabuto constructed of broad plates worked on the surface to a rough texture, the flanges fitted with gilt-copper fukurin and surmounted by a four-stage gilt-copper tehen kanamono, the mabisashi applied with stenciled doe skin, trimmed in gilt-metal fukurin and fitted with gilt-metal kuwagata dai pierce carved with chrysanthemums and floral scroll and supporting a gilt-metal kuwagata and a large disc maedate, the bowl fitted with a wide three-lame omanju jikoro and a full fukigaeshi applied with stenciled doe skin and gilt-metal family crests; the menpo with deep wrinkles and a prominent chin, the cheeks with yadome and lacquered black in a striated-pattern finish, boar-bristle mustache, the mask with a five-lame hinged yodarekake; the do-maru lacquered with a "stone finish" mounted with gilt-copper hardware, some of it carved with paulownia crests on a nanako ground, the munaita applied with stenciled doe skin decorated with the Sanskrit character for Fudo Myo-o, the wakiita applied with gilt leather, seven sections of four-lame kusazari; two-lame nodawa; tsubo sode applied with gilt-metal kanmuri no ita; shino gote; kawara haidate; tsubo suneate; two wood storage boxes decorated with family crests
With an attestation paper attributing the helmet to Myochin Muneyasu, signed Myochin Munekatsu and dated 1724