"Ni-mai-dō tosei gusoku" samurai armor. Japan, early 18th century. Edo period

"Ni-mai-dō tosei gusoku" samurai armor. Japan, early 18th century. Edo period.
Lacquered iron, silver-plated metal inlays, leather, and textile cordwork.
Heraldic emblem (kamon) of the Hotta-Mokkō clan.
Provenance: Okayama Collection; formerly, Toraba Collection (Trevor Absolon).
Exhibitions: -“Return of the Samurai,” Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Canada, August 6–November 14, 2010. -“The Quintessence of Ancestral Japanese Art Combined with the Highest Degree of Refinement in Swiss Watchmaking,” Chopard, Paris, December 11, 2015 – January 15, 2016.
In good condition.
Measurements: 120 x 28 x 48 cm.

This suit of armor is an outstanding example of the technical and ornamental sophistication achieved by Japanese armory during the Edo period. Belonging to the ni-mai-dō tosei gusoku type, characterized by a breastplate consisting of two sections, it combines defensive functionality with an elaborate representational dimension, typical of the samurai military tradition.

The helmet (shii-nari kabuto) has a characteristic slightly conical shape, resembling an acorn, and is composed of six lacquered iron plates. It incorporates a neck guard (hineno-shikoro) and small side flaps (fukigaeshi) decorated with the Hotta-Mokkō clan emblem. Of particular note is the frontal ornament (maedate) in the shape of a kuginuki, a symbol associated with the conquest of fortresses, courage, and good fortune in battle.

Of particular interest is the red-lacquered iron face mask (menpō), a less common variant whose intense coloration evoked anger and blood, reinforcing the warrior’s intimidating presence. With a stern yet restrained expression, it lacks a mustache and teeth, and features a removable nose and two side pieces (yadome) designed to reinforce the structure and secure the helmet’s laces. The armor also incorporates European-influenced details, visible in the silver-plated raised sections of the main plates, with finely chiseled edges.

During the Edo period, samurai armor took on increasing ceremonial significance, becoming symbols of rank and family prestige. The historical significance of this piece is reinforced by its provenance from the Toraba and Okayama collections, as well as by its inclusion in exhibitions dedicated to Japanese military art and culture in Canada and France.