Boys' armour "warabe tosei gusoku", Edo period (1603-1868) ·  Japan · ID: 3052211

Description

wood, lacquer, lacing, fabric, metal,

Helmet (“kabuto”) with sixteen lamellae (d: 11,5 cm), helmet crown (“tehen kanamono”) and crest (“maedate”) in the form of an extremely intricately crafted dragon, whose upper body emerges from a metal plate decorated with clouds, two-piece neck guard (“shikoro”), helmet interior and lamellae of the “shikoro” elaborately covered with fabric. Half mask (“menpo”) made of light wood with a moustache made of animal fur and a small neck guard (“yodarekake”) made of three wooden lamellae with gold lacquer.

Two-piece breastplate (“do”) lacquered smoky blue and gold, with family crest (“mon”), two differently designed, lacquered pieces of wood serve to close the gap between the breastplate and the shoulder guard. Underneath the five-piece shoulder guard (“sode”), sleeves (“kote”) made of blue brocade fabric, trimmed with gold-plated wooden slats, three-piece hand guard (“tekko”).

Five-piece protective skirt (“kusazuri”), made of five gold-lacquered wooden slats on apricot-coloured braided strands, a belt with padded ends made of blue brocade fabric conceals the base of the “kusazuri” at the breastplate.

Thigh guards (“haidate”) made of thin, gold-coloured leather (?) with wooden rosettes and brass buttons. Pair of shin guards (“suneate”), made of lacquered wood with fabric trim. Matching shoes, leather, partly with fur trim and cuffs made of blue brocade fabric.

A small sword in a wooden scabbard with a dragon emblem on the hilt.

This armour comes with an original wooden storage box “gusoku bitsu” with a black lacquer finish.

All parts are extremely elaborate and artistically crafted. These very rare children’s armours were made with the same care as their adult counterparts.

Comparing literature

Barbier-Mueller, J. Gabriel & Roger Diederen (ed.), Samurai, Pracht des japanischen Rittertums, München 2019, p. 278