WORKS ON DISPLAY

KOELLIKER COLLECTION

1. Okegawa-dô gusoku (Riveted armour)
Mid-Edo period – 18th century
Inv. LKNI0084
Black lacquered helmet with 62 plates. The two-piece cuirass is made of horizontal plates, with vertical ribbing on the front for greater protection against firearms. The heraldic insignia on the armour can be traced to the Konuki clan, from Mutsu province.

2. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Momoyama period – Late 16th century
Inv. LKNI0088
The whole armour is made of small individual plates tied with silk and showing an unusual vertical-banded motif, with lacquer and lacings in two colours. There are two heraldic insignia: one painted in lacquer on the front and hidden under the nodowa (breastplate) and one in openwork on the arm pieces, in the variant used by – among others – the Honda clan.

3. Nuinobe-dô gusoku (Large-plated armour)
Momoyama period – early Edo period Start of the 17th century
Inv. LKNI0115
Red lacquered helmet, signed Jôshû ju Narishige, Momoyama period.
A jinbaori, the sleeveless surcoat typically worn over the armour, was added later.

4. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Momoyama period – early Edo period Start of the 17th century
Inv. LKNI0118
Momoyama period – early Edo period Start of the 17th century
Like the previous one, this armour is characterized by the distinctive elements of the protection used by the Ii clan of Hikone: the red lacquer and a plain, polished helmet with long, gilt horns on the front.

5. Nuinobe-dô gusoku (Large-plated armour)
Momoyama period – early Edo period Start of the 17th century
Inv. LKNI0137
The “red devils” of Ii Naomasa and the clans close to him were outfitted in a distinct way, well illustrated by this armour: red lacquer and plain, polished helmet with gilt frontal decoration showing long, stylized horns.
In this case, the mask is plain and lacking the nose, a trait typical of much of this clan’s armour.
The two ideograms decorating the armour mean “large” and “small”.

6. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0114
The armour is completely made up of individual plates, and is extremely heavy.
The heraldic insignia of two different clans is shown. One is the fan-shaped motif used by the Satake clan, important daimyō of the Akita domain, the other represents seven stars and was used by various families. One of these – the Wada clan – was placed in charge of some of the territories controlled by the Satake. We can conjecture that a member of the Satake family with little hope for the succession had himself adopted by the Wada family, which was less important but in which he would have held greater power. This procedure was quite idespread and also served to consolidate military and political ties between the various clans.

7. Byôtoji nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with plated cuirass and rivets)
Mid-Edo period Late 18th century
Inv. LKNI0110
The cuirass is in two sections with horizontal plate joined by rivets made in the form of cherry blossoms. On the right is a hinge for opening the lower section of the cuirass. The mask is of a rare type and represents the face of a demon, with sharp canines and moustaches that droop down to the helmet.

8. Gomai-dô gusoku (Armour with five-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period Late 18th century
Inv. LKNI0070
The cuirass is made in five hinged sections with horizontal plates imitating a scale-like construction. The cuirass and shoulder straps show a cross motif created with lacquer and lacings in two different colours.

9. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0090
The 62-plate helmet is signed Jôshû ju Saotome Iesada, and is earlier than the rest of the armour. The practice of inserting an older helmet bowl in armour of new construction was widespread among high ranking samurai in order to be able to re-use the work of famous armourers.

10. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0089
The armour is finished in gilt lacquer of the byakudan type. Unlike the more common form of kinpaku lacquering, which consists of a layer of gold leaf applied over the last layers of lacquer, the byakudan technique calls for gilding at an intermediate level, which is then covered with other layers of transparent lacquer that warm up the hue of the underlying gold to the point that it is almost orange-coloured. From the technical point of view, the process is much longer and more complicated, but the final result is remarkable: instead of a golden surface, the effect is one of “lacquered gold”, with an almost glassy surface.

11. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0087
24-plate helmet, signed Jôshû ju Saotome Ieharu.
The two-sectional cuirass is of very high quality, and is wholly made up of individual plates; the orange-blossom heraldic symbols are in finely wrought silver. Armour of this kind, of an understated elegance, but at the same time made with careful attention to the slightest detail, is typical of the best patrons of the 18th century. We can see how the armourer has started to return to certain elements from medieval armour, such as the stamped leather on the cuirass and the stylized horns on the helmet, but without yet going back to the large sode (shoulder guards) and splendid decorations.

12. Byôtoji gomai-dô gusoku (Armour with plated cuirass with rivets)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0129
The 24-plate helmet is of the hoshi-bachi type and it characterized by long, pointed rivets.
The cuirass, very strong and heavy, is built in five sections, with contoured horizontal plates joined by rivets and silk lacings in the upper part.

13. Nuinobe-dô gusoku (Large-plated armour)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0138
The helmet is hat-shaped, with exceptional deer-antler decorations on the sides. On the front is painted the votive inscription “Hachiman Dai Bosatsu” (“Great Bodhisattva Hachiman”),
in honour of the god of war in the Shinto tradition; this phrase was also traditionally used as a battle cry. The two-sectional cuirass had prominent shoulder-guards overlaying the shoulder straps.
The thigh-guard also has a rare form, wrapping round and tapering at the knee for greater freedom of movement.
The gong-shaped heraldic symbol can be referred to the Andō clan.

14. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th–19th century
Inv. LKNI0171
The helmet is made of 8 plates and is covered with embossed iron hemispherical appliqués imitating large rivets. The two-sectional cuirass is kinpaku gold-laquered and tied with lacings of two colours.
Though simple and linear in form, this armour has the nodowa, a protection for the throat requested only rarely by important clients.

15. Môgami-dô tosei gusoku (Armour with laced, smooth-plated cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th–19th century
Inv. LKNI0167
The helmet is made up of 28 very thick and heavy plates; richly etched plates with gilt decorations have been applied to the four sides.
The mōgami-type construction is not frequently found in cuirasses, though it is quite often seen in other parts of the armour. To use this technique, the cuirass is made in five sections, each of which is composed of horizontal plates joined with silk laces rather than riveting.

16. Hotoke-dô gusoku (Armour with smooth-faced cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0142
The cuirass has two sections with vertical ribbing on the front and a lacquer finish imitating gold and silver damascening decorations. This type of finish is very rare and most of the time involves later modifications, but here, the lacquering is original, and of very high quality.

17. Gomai-dô tosei gusoku (Armour with five-sectional cuirass)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0111
The helmet incorporates a bowl from the Nambokucho period (1336-1392) and is mounted according to a medieval style used throughout the piece of armour. The mask is embossed and represents a demon’s face, with moustaches and sharp teeth. Cuirass and mask are both signed by Myôchin Kunimichi, which suggests that the armour’s creation dates from between 1663 and 1673. The armour is documented in the drawings of Myōchin Muneyoshi (1852-1940), who repaired the mask; his notes show that it was owned by a member of the Matsudaira Takiwaki family. The armour is quite sumptuous, too rich for a daimyō of such a small domain to afford. Furthermore, the aoi-type heraldic symbol here applied everywhere, could only be used by a few branches of the Matsudaira clan, which suggests that in all probability it originally belonged to a member of the main branch. The secondary kikyo-flower heraldic symbol, the Takiwaki family emblem, seems to have been applied later. It is therefore plausible to conjecture that this armour was presented to Nobutaka in 1698, when he became daimyō.

18. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0139
The 62-plate helmet is decorated with a unique frontal ornament made with a real shell and gilding. The armour is entirely constructed of small, individual scales laced together with silk.

19. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0117
The 64-plate helmet is decorated with the heraldic insignia of the Koide clan. The armour is accompanied by a letter dated 13 May 1883, addressed to a prior owner and signed Koide Kunisaburo.

20. Okegawa-dô gusoku (Armour with riveted plates)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI013
The helmet has 62 plates, with smooth-plated neck protection. The other parts of the armour are made with the same style, while in the cuirass, the horizontal plates are riveted, except for the first three.
Inside, there is a signature in red lacquer: Iwai Yoshikazu.

21. Tatehagi okegawa-dô gusoku (Armour with riveted vertical plates)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0100
The helmet made of 18 semi-spherical plates follows the form of medieval examples. The cuirass is made of riveted vertical plates, with a slight ribbing at the centre. The hōdō-style thigh guard is a rather rare feature; the protection in the lower part is doubled, with hanging parts that reflect the style of the lap guard. The edges throughout the armour are lined with gilt leather or silver braid. The heraldic insignia decorating each individual part of the gear is fan-shaped in the variant used by the Akita clan, daimyō of Mihara (Mutso).

22. Tatehagi okegawa gomai-dô gusoku (Five-sectional armour with riveted vertical plates)
Close of the Muromachi period – Momoyama period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0141
62-plate helmet signed by Munehisa and dated 1534. The construction is typical of helmets, with four orders of rivets fastening flat, thin plates. The large shoulder guards and the elegant mask also date from the Muromachi period.
The vertical-plated cuirass is made in five sections, with slight ribbing at the centre; it is signed with the full name of Munesuke, who oversaw the restoration of the armour at the start of the Edo period, and probably gave it the form we see today.

23. Yukinoshita-dô gusoku (Five-sectional armour of the “yukinoshita” type)
Late Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0170
In the yukinoshita-type cuirass, each of the five sections is made of a single iron plate and is hinged instead of tied with silk cords. There is a full signature that reads Myōchin Munetae in the manner of Yukinoshita Hisaie, with the date 1803 and votive inscriptions to Benzaiten, Marishi-ten, and Daikokuten. These three divinities make up the so-called “divine trinity” (santen) invoked during the Edo period as bearer of wealth and wellbeing.
Helmet and cuirass are fully damascened in gold and silver with dragons and divinities, while on the shoulder straps the decorations are a later addition.

24. Byôtoji okegawa-dô gusoku (Armour with plated cuirass fastened with decorative rivets)
Mid-Edo period 18th–19th century
Inv. LKNI0164
The 62-plate helmet is signed Saotome Moriie.
The two-sectional cuirass leaves exposed the heads of the rivets joining the horizontal plates. The other parts of the cuirass, like the last plates of the other parts of the armour, are decorated with stamped, gilt leather.

25. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Mid-Edo period 18th–19th century
Inv. LKNI0163
The armour includes a 62-plate helmet and a two-sectional cuirass with lacquer and lacings in two colours. There are also guards protecting the sides of the chest, just under the armpits; these pieces, known as wakibiki, are rather rare and do not appear in any other armour in the Collezione Koelliker.

26.Nerikawa nimai-dô gusoku (Leather armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Second half of the Edo period19th century
Inv. LKNI0166
Apart from the shoulder- and hand-guards, the armour is entirely made of nerikawa, that is, boiled and moulded leather. The helmet, apparently plated, is actually made of leather, with appliquéd edging imitating a suji-bachi. The same kind of workmanship was used for the cuirass and the other parts of the armour. The leather structure, the noticeable variations in colour, and the contoured shape of the plates are all distinctive elements of armour from the Kaga region during the second half of the Edo period.
The fuji heraldic device may be referred to the Naito clan.

27. Dô-maru gusoku (Armour with hinge-less cuirass)
Late Edo period19th century
Inv. LKNI0132
The 28-plate hemispherical helmet copies a type of helmet in vogue during the Middle Ages. The same style was also used for the large shoulder straps, as well as for the dō-maru type of construction (that is, made from a single element) of the cuirass. The mask is made with a riveted, fixed nose-piece and is decorated with parallel incisions over the entire surface; thus, it seems to date from a period earlier than the rest of the armour, and that is, from the start of the Edo period.
There is an interesting set of sangu (the three guards for the upper and lower limbs): the arms are protected by a full surcoat to the sleeves of which the guards were sewn, while for the legs there was a rare form of haidate, similar to a pair of pants to which 88 S-shaped plates were fastened.

28. Hotoke-dô gusoku (Armour with smooth-faced cuirass)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0127
This extraordinary piece of armour is characterized by the skate-skin (same) linings. The type of workmanship is extremely rare and very few pieces of armour with such extensive inserts of this expensive material are known. Skate-skin has always been present in the samurai tradition as it is the material used to line the handle of the sword.
Other parts of the armour are decorated in lacquer with inlaid mother-of-pearl flakes.

29. Nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with two-sectional cuirass)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0128
The armour is entirely made of boiled leather (nerikawa), except for the neck guard, which is made of iron.
The helmet is made in imitation of a suji-bachi, and is decorated with peacock feathers and with an extraordinary ornament added later, made of the tail of a wild feline. The mask is of the hōate kind, and covers the chin and cheeks, leaving the nose exposed. The sleeves are the bishamon-gote type and incorporate additional guards for the shoulders which could be worn even without shoulder straps.

30. Kawa-toji nimai-dô gusoku (Armour with leather cuirass and lacing)
Second half of the Edo period19th century
Inv. LKNI0169
This fanciful model has many qualities typical of the Kaga area output during the Edo period. The helmet is in lacquered leather and is decorated with original horsehair ornaments.

The two-sectional cuirass is in stitched leather, with similar workmanship echoed on the sleeves.
Another feature of Kaga armour, here quite visible, is the use of a different shade of colour for the decoration of the last plate of the movable sections.

31.Dô-maru gusoku (Armour with hinge-less cuirass)
End of the Edo period19th century
Inv. LKNI0162
The 22-plate helmet is richly decorated with gilt ornaments and is attributed to Myōchin Munemasa. The dō-maru-type cuirass is made with alternate plates of leather and iron, and multicolour lacings. The gilt appliqués embellishing every part of this armour are of high quality; crafted in high relief and open-work floral motifs, they are a decorative element suggesting a prestigious patron.
The gong-shaped heraldic device can be referred to the Andō clan.

32. Kuwagata-nari kawari kabuto (Extraordinary stylized antler helmet)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0106
The decorations on the sides of the helmet represent the ends of kuwagata, the traditional frontal ornament used on medieval helmets, to represent stylized deer antlers. It is a highly rare typology that departs from traditional forms.

33. Nyudo zunari kawari kabuto (Extraordinary monk’s head helmet)
Momoyama period – Start of the Edo period 16th–17th century
Inv. LKNI0065
Following the traditional iconography for representing Buddhist monks, this helmet is made in the shape of a shaved head with huge ears, eyebrows and frowning forehead. A calligraphic design on the crown of the helmet refers to a poem by Kamo Mabuchi (1697-1796), among cherry blossoms and petals: “If anyone were to ask me about the spirit of Japan, I would answer that it is in the wild cherry blossoms in full bloom when they reflect the morning sun.”

34. Suji-bachi kabuto e menpô (Multi-plate helmet and mask)
Edo period 17th–19th century
Inv. LKNI0175
The 62-plate helmet bowl is extremely heavy and probably dates from the 17th century. During the second half of the Edo period it was remounted and decorated with very high quality gilt appliqués. The last rows of knots are coated with red lacquer.
The mask is signed Tomomichi.

35. Za-boshi so fukurin kabuto a 32 piastre (32-plate helmet with decorated rivets)
Start of the Edo period17th century
Inv. LKNI0182
Helmets of this style are quite rare; usually the plates in helmets of this type have hammered rivets and may be decorated with the shinodare ornamental strip. In this case, the rivets are highlighted by the gilding and the use of decorative washers (zaboshi).

36. Koboshi kabuto a 16 piastre (Multi-plate helmet with protruding rivets)
Start of the Edo period17th century
Inv. LKNI0179
The helmet bowl is signed Jōshō ju Saotome Iesada. Iesada was the fourth master of the Saotome school and was active in Hitachi province at the start of the Edo period, according
to the classification adopted by the Myōchin, with the rating of Jo Jo I (excellent). The style of this helmet is unusual with wide, lacquered plates and short shinodare ornamental strips alongside the rows of rivets.

37. Koboshi kabuto a 62 piastre e ressei men (Multi-plate helmet with rivets and mask)
Mid-Edo period18th century
Inv. LKNI0270
Both the helmet bowl and the mask are signed “Neo Masanobu”, one of the most renowned armourers of the Edo period, who was active in around 1700 and mostly worked in Nara, gaining renown for having created very high quality 120-plate helmets. The large gilt circle decorating the helmet represents a sun; other helmets by Neo Masanobu utilizing the same ornament are known.

38. Momonari-bachi kawari kabuto (Extraordinary peach-shaped helmet)
Start of the Edo period18th century
Inv. LKNI0107
The visor and the central seam are decorated in gold lacquer, with floral tendrils on a nashiji (pear skin) ground. The large side decorations in gilt wood represent the valves of a clam.

39. So-fukurin suji-bachi kabuto (Multi-plate helmet with flanged edges)
Momoyama period – Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0092
The helmet bowl is made up of 62 S-shaped plates, so that between each pair of suji (ribs), the plate is convex and thus more resistant to blows.
The 7-layer ornament of the upper opening is in the form of a chrysanthemum, typical of helmets between the 16th and 17th centuries.

40. Suji-bachi kabuto (Multi-plate helmet)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0180
This interesting helmet has each plate decorated with a short shinodare (ornamental strip) with rounded end, creating a chrysanthemum motif.

41. Momonari suji-bachi kabuto (Extraordinary peach-shaped helmet)
Start of the Edo period17th century
Inv. LKNI0174
Though the momonari shape was conceived as a simple way to construct helmets offering a high degree of protection, with a complex structure of 32 parallel plates, indicating the high rank of whoever commissioned it. The helmet bowl dates from the 17th century and has been remounted here.

42. Momonari koboshi kabuto (Extraordinary peach-shaped helmet)
Momoyama period Late 16th century
Inv. LKNI0178
Here, too, the momonari shape was used with a complex construction, incorporating 62 plates and standing rivets. The neck protection is quite wide and has been dubbed kasa-shikoro (“umbrella-shaped”).

43. Shinominari kabuto (Extraordinary acorn-shaped helmet)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0271
This helmet shape recalls the form of an acorn. The construction with six wide plates and the kind of applied decorations suggest an attribution to the Unkai school. The heraldic symbol applied to the visor is of the aoi type, in a rare variant with the tips of the mallow leaves turned outwards.

44. Momonari-bachi kawari kabuto (Extraordinary peach-shaped helmet)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0086
Five-plate helmet with embossed iron appliqués. The ribbing in the back is covered by the figure of a dragon the head of which – removable – peers out from the crown of the helmet. The neck protection is made with the last plate lacquered in a way different from the others, and the interior in gold, indicating the high rank of the helmet’s owner. This characteristic along with others allow us to attribute the helmet to the Unkai school A mechanical system permits the rapid removal of the lower part of the bowl and the shikoro (neck guard), perhaps to adapt the helmet to different suits of armour.

45. Okitenugui kabuto (Extraordinary towel-style helmet)
Momoyama period NLate 16* century
Inv. LKNI0177
The helmet bowl is signed Kishuō uji juō Nagahisa, and it is made with heavy, riveted plates recalling the form of a towel (tenugui) tied around the head. This form was used in particular by the armourers of Saika, in Kii province, who perfected its constructed in order to make it resistant to firearms. As usual with Saika school helmets, there are appliquéd openwork decorations at the sides and a pair of repoussé eyebrows.

46. Zaboshi tenkokuzannari kabuto (Concave helmet)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0176
This tenkokuzan helmet – that is, with a dip at the crown – is enhanced by rivets and washers and shaped appliqués that suggest an attribution to the Saika school.

47. Mattônari kawari kabuto (Extraordinary hat-shaped helmet)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0181
The helmet is made by repoussage (uchidashi) in a soft hat shape; iron filings added to the surface lacquering creates a metallic effect.
The heraldic symbols are a variation on the choji (carnation) type.

48. Ushigashira kawari kabuto (Extraordinary oxhead-shaped helmet)
Start of the Edo period 17th century
Inv. LKNI0085
Made with a papier-mâché and lacquer superstructure that is a naturalistic representation of an oxhead, this helmet is unique of its kind, and may have belonged to a member of the Kuroda clan, whose helmets were often decorated with long horns similar to these.

49. Sazaenari kawari kabuto (Extraordinary shell-shaped helmet)
First half of the Edo period 18th century
The helmet bowl is entirely repoussage work and is made from a single iron sheet. Both the shell form and the workmanship are typical features of the Ryōei school. This armourer only known thanks to the signatures on famous repoussé helmets. His real name was Ohara Katsunari and during the Enpo period (1673-1681) he became a pupil of Fukushima Kunitaka, an expert in repoussage techniques.

50. Awabinari kawari kabuto (Extraordinary shell-shaped helmet)
Start of the Edo period17th century
Inv. LKNI0158
The helmet is made of two repoussé plates joined at the centre by means of a wide crest, probably originally covered by an applied ornament, as in the case of the practically identical piece conserved at the Iyeyasu and Mikawa Bushi Museum in Okazaki.
The interior is gold lacquered.

51. Kumagashira kawari kabuto (Extraordinary bear’s-head helmet)
Close of the Edo period – Meiji period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0173
Although this extraordinary helmet has been published as dating from the Edo period, it is more probable that a correct dating should be moved forward to the close of the 19th century.

52. Kawari kabuto (Extraordinary helmet)
Mid-Edo period18th century
Inv. LKNI0116
Helmet with a wave-shaped lacquered leather superstructure with five rows of long, protruding rivets. The modelled side wings and the use of stamped leather are typical of the Unkai school of Kaga province, as is the hardened leather superstructure. While other helmets of this form are known, the specialized literature has not given a precise name to describe it.

54. Ichimonji Jingasa (Flat hat)
End of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0186
The jingasa is typically the battle helmet of low-ranking soldiers, much more economical and simpler than the kabuto. However, there is no lack of more refined jingasa, like this one, intended for samurai who preferred to wear something lighter when they carried out their “civic” or in unofficial contexts. The jingasa developed in imitation of the straw hat worn by ordinary people (kasa). They may have various forms; in this case – a nearly flat profile that seems to be a shield – it is called ichimonji (“straight line”).

55. Ressei men (Mask with fierce expression)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0147
Iron menpô with riveted, fixed (not removable) nose. The naturalistic features, including the ears and well-defined expression lines, suggest an attribution to an armourer of the Myôchin school.

56. Ryûbu men (Mask with soldierly expression)
Mid-Edo period18th century
Inv. LKNI0183
Iron menpô with hinged, removable nose.The appliqué decorations in the form of a cherry branch are characteristic of the Unkai school of Kaga province. As usual with masks of this type, the surface is treated leaving parallel filing marks, here so light as to be nearly imperceptible. The yodare kake (sort of bib attached to the lower edge of the mask) has hinged movable parts that provide complete protection of the neck.

57. Ressei men (Mask with fierce expression)
Mid-Edo period18th century
Inv. LKNI0159
Iron menpô with removable nose. The naturalistic, well-defined features suggest the Myôchin school.

58. Ryûbu men (Mask with soldierly expression)
Second half of the Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0149
Iron menpô with hinged removable nose. As is typical of this type of mask produced by the Myôchin school, there are two moulded yadome (standing flanges on the cheek areas). Such elements, which replace other kinds of hooks or rings used for fastening the helmet’s lacings, also function as a reinforcement of the menpô’s structure itself.

59. Maedate (Frontal helmet ornament)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0226
Ornament for the front of the helmet, made of iron in the shape of a butterfly. Although the symbolic significance of the butterfly is connected to the concept of death and rebirth, in Japan this insect primarily represents beauty and female elegance, and was used in the decorations of both the aristocratic class and the warrior class, appearing in the heraldic devices of important clans, such as the Oda and the Ikeda among others.

60. Maedate (Frontal helmet ornament)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0227
Ornament for the front of the helmet, made of lacquered and gilt wood in the shape of a hopping rabbit. As a sign of the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit is characterized by longevity, strength, and courage.

61. Maedate (Frontal helmet ornament)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0228
Ornament for the front of the helmet, made of lacquered wood in the shape of a diving hawk.
Hawks and eagles have always been among the samurai’s favourite decorations, for their proud and violent nature, and the lively intelligence that distinguishes their way of hunting.

62. Maedate (Frontal helmet ornament)
Mid-Edo period18th century
Inv. LKNI0299
Ornament for the front of the helmet, made of gilt wood in the shape of a lobster. The lobster is an auspicious symbol of longevity because of its curved tail resembling the bent back of an old person

63. Maedate (Frontal helmet ornament)
First half of the Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0229
Ornament for the front of the helmet, made of gilt wood in the shape of a shikami head, one of the most common figures in the iconography of the maedate. Since it is always shown as a demon with a rather fierce expression, it is a decoration suited to the military spirit the armour should embody.

64. Saihai (Commander’s baton)
Momoyama period – Start of the Edo period 16th–17th century
Inv. LKNI0150
This rather long example of a saihai, with strips of paper directly attached to the baton, is built according to western models of the sceptre. Originally conceived as a tool for commanding the troops, during the Edo period the saihai became an accessory to be worn along with the armour as a symbol of power.

65.Saihai (Commander’s baton)
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0222
Very fine commander’s baton, with dragonfly motif maki-e lacquer decorations. The theme of the dragonfly is still today very popular in Japan and symbolizes the values of strength and courage.

66. Kago hankyu (Travel set of bow and arrows)
End of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0168
The kago hankyu is a smaller version of the yumi-dai, the right size for use from within a palanquin. It is made of a bow and some arrows. This rare specimen is signed Kobayashi Masaoku. The three heraldic symbols decorating all the surfaces of the quiver, used all at the same time, were employed by some branches of the Matsudaira clan in the early decades of the 19th century.

67. Ebira (Quiver)
End of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI0217
In use since the Middle Ages, this kind of “open-style” quiver left the arrows fully in view, bundled together and with the tips inserted in the special protective dividers of the lower section. This model is a very fine example, and clearly bears on the front the aoi-type heraldic device of the Tokugawa clan.

68. Utsubo(Quiver)
Mid-Edo period 18th century
Inv. LKNI0201
The utsubo is a travel-sized version of a quiver, completely closed. On the side, a large leather lid makes it possible to get to the interior to put the arrows there, inserted tip-down in the special lodging. This piece is covered with bear skin, to keep the inside well protected from the rain.

69. Accessory for harquebus
Second half of the Edo period 19th century
Inv. LKNI232A_H
Set made of a powder flask, four containers for charges, and a bullet holder. Each element is decorated with mura nashiji (“mottled pear skin”) lacquer and bears an aio-type heraldic symbol.

70. Tachi in uchigatana koshirae
Ko Mihara school, Bingo province, Nanbokucho period
Nagasa
Inv. LKNI0268
The Mihara school was founded, as tradition has it, by Masaie in the early 1300s in Bingo province, today the southern part of the Hiroshima prefecture. Under the strong influence of the Yamato tradition, the group of craftsmen from the Ko-Mihara school worked between the close of the Kamakura period and throughout the Nambokucho period. Mihara blades made after the Nanbokucho period are called Chu, Sue, or Kai Mihara.
The blade has an uchigatana-type mounting with shakudo nanako and gold trim. Like armour, the blades underwent deep changes when the samurai abandoned fighting on horseback, so that swords, too, had to be adapted to the new way of fighting, thrust directly into the obi (a sort of belt worn under the armour), with the cutting edge facing up. Therefore, to facilitate removal, blades shorter than in the foregoing period were produced, while whoever wished to use an older sword – as in this case – reduced its dimensions.

71. Kodachi
Den Tomotsugu (Kaga no kuni), Muromachi period
Inv. LKNI0214
The blade’s mounting is more recent and of the itomaki koshirae-type, with trim in shakudo alloy and a bear-skin sheath for protection against the rain.
Swords under 60 centimetres in length but mounted as regular tachi are called kodachi (“small tachi”) and were presumably used by young samurai when they were wearing their armour.

72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78.
Tachi koshirae (Sword mounts)
Edo period
Inv. LKNI0216, Inv. LKNI0200, Inv. LKNI0165, Inv. LKNI0187, Inv. LKNI0161, Inv. LKNI0188, Inv. LKNI0233
Mountings of this style, with lacquer decorated with heraldic symbols and metal trim, are the most traditional and refined. Though the first pieces date from the Muromachi period, production of this kind of mounting remained virtually unchanged through to the end of the Edo period and beyond.
These mountings were typically used when wearing armour, and hung with the cutting edge of the blade turned downward.