Samurai Armor Hon Kozaane Do Maru Gusoku, Juyo

Ahonkozane do-maru gusoku [armour with wrapped cuirass]The helmet signed Myochinki Munetane saku (made by Myochin Munetane)Edo period, the helmet dated Tenpogonen sangatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the 3rd month of 1834) Kabuto [helmet]:the fine sixty-two plate russet iron bowl with standingrivets, the large turn-backs and peak applied in stenciled Dutch leather, threetiered manju-jikoro [rounded neck guard] with close-spaced lacing in bluebraid, the gold lacquer maedate [ornamental crest] in the form of a karashishisurmounted on a kuwagata-dai pierced with chrysanthemums and foliate scrollsMempo [face mask]:the russet iron ryubu men forged with noble expression andwrinkleless face, detachable nose plate, standing flanges (yadome), red lacquerinterior, two-tiered yodarekake [throat protector] laced in matching braid,stencilled Dutch leather edging Do [cuirass]:the wrapped cuirass in honkozane[true lamellae], two-tiered nodowa [throat guard], signed to the reverse ingold lacquer Myochin Munetane, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt]Sode, kote [shoulder guards and sleeves]: six-tiered osode, the leatherinterior lining signed Myochin Munetane, chainmail kote, fine gold and redlacquer kawari-nuri tekko [gauntlets], silk brocade lining embroidered withgold thread Haidate, sune-ate [thigh protectors and shin guards]: blacklacquered haidate with silk brocade edging, the shin guards (shino suneate)matching the tekko Accessories: accompanied with a red lacquered wood armourstorage box (karabishu) inlaid in silvered and gilt-copper with cherryblossoms, silvered fittings  Accompaniedby a certificate of registration as Juyo Katchu [Important Cultural Material],no. 53, issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Rekishi Kenkyu Kai [Research Societyfor the History of Japanese Armour], dated Heisei 1 (1989). Myochin Munetane (1799-1850) was thetwenty-eighth head of the renowned Myochin family of armour makers. ConditionReport: Overall, the armour is good condition with some wear consistent withage and use, the helmet with some old wear to the silk braid on the largeturnbacks, including some soiling and fading to the silk, the maedate with someslight old damage to the tail of the karashishi, as is typical the mempo withsome slight surface rust, the cuirass with some chips to the lacquer lamellae,the skirt with some wear to the silk braid, the shoulder guards overall in goodcondition with some slight wear to the silk, slight chips to the lacquerlamellae, the silk lining of the sleeves worn but could be restored, the uppersilk lining of the haidate with some wear, the karabitsu with slight cracks tothe cover consistent with the use of the box, some dents, chips and rubbing tothe red lacquer, a few cracks and lacquer losses.