Kuro Urushi Dou Gusoku

ERA: Early Edo Period – Genna~Kanei First half of the 17th Century

STYLE: Kuro Urushi Nuri Okegawa Dou Gusoku

REGION: Kanto – Likely Yamagata region.

SCHOOL: Myouchin

SIGNATURE: “Shi” or “Hiro” (Kabuto)

Here is a very nice matching armor that is classified as an okegawa dou gusoku. Or armor with dou of horizontal plates. This particular style with this lace and lacquer color is usually found in armors from the Kanto region, mainly the areas to the North of and west of Tokyo, Ie. Gunma through Yamagata areas. This suit has completely matching lacquer, though the fabric of the suneate does not match the kote and haidate which match. This can be due to the suneate not having been given new fabric when the other parts did, or possibly because they are not original to the armor. The fabric is older than the fabric of the haidate and kote though and I personally believe them to be original. All lacquer parts of this armor have the same color and patina and are in the same overall very very good condition for their age. The lacquer is a dark blackish colour which has patinated to a very slight maroon tinge.

The original Edo period lacing remains on the kabuto and mempo only. They are laced with a very tight and intricately hand woven “mimi ito” , or boarder lacing that I have seen in other armors from the area. The dou and sode, however, have had to have their original lacing replaced sometime in the past. When lacing goes, it is usually the dou and sode to break or fray first. Therefore, when it was relaced it was done with a similar color scheme as the original mimi ito, however it is not exactly the same as it is done by a more standard Edo period blue, white, green pattern. The armor is original and complete though and not a composite with the possible exception of the suneate.

The highlight of the armor is the kanto style suji kabuto that is very unusual in that it has 18 plates. Most kabuto are constructed in 6, 12, 16, 32, 36, or 62 plates. The reason that you see so many kabuto in these proportions has to do with the way patterns are done, and these are the more standard patters. A kabuto made in multiples of 9 is very unusual. The kabuto is signed with a very unusual signature that is basically the kanji for the number 4. It is signed bold and dead center of the back plate. It is an actual signature rather than an armor smith’s reference mark as armor smiths never used kanji to number the plates, and there are not other plates in the kabuto with numbers. As used in a name, the kanji reads “HIRO”. The kabuto is decorated with its original four stage tehen kanamono that has some simple arabesque pattern carved into it. The kabuto is adorned with an original Edo period maedate. The maedate is a large Edo piece, NOT a replica.  However, it is not original to this kabuto as it is fitted with a mounting for a different type of attachment post and was altered later with a post to fit a kabuto with a haraidate. The matching mempo is  also early in style with the original matching lacing.

In all, this armor is a very heavy, very early, very ubu (unmolested) piece in excellent condition for its age.

 

Currently offered on Ebay