Samurai suit of armor from the Edo Period, Japan,... Lot 2

Samurai suit of armor from the Edo Period, Japan, XVIII century. Steel mesh, leather, cloth and lacquered. It consists of helmet, mask, breastplate, shoulder pads, sleeves, thigh pads, shin guards and stirrups. It comes with its original storage box in polychrome wood. It has slight flaws. Wear and tear due to use and passage of time. Measures: 140 x 60 x 50 cm (mounted armor); 54 x 40 x 42 cm (box). The Japanese armor, regardless of its evolution over time, always tried to combine protection with mobility, so that the warrior had an acceptable freedom of movement. For this reason, the "gushoku-shi", the master craftsmen of this art, always sought materials that would allow this balance, such as metal and leather. The armor we now present consists of a kabuto or helmet from which hangs a shikoro neck protector. The somen (mask that covered the entire face) is polychromed in black. It was intended as a facial armor designed in such a way that the heavy helmet could be tied and secured to it by several metal stakes. The breastplate, sleeves (kote) and thigh pads (haidate) combine earth-colored cloth, leather and steel. It is also accompanied by shin guards and stirrups. The samurai's interest in distinguished armor arose in the Edo period, a period considered peaceful, also known as the Era of Uninterrupted Peace (1603-1868). In this period, the absence of warlike conflicts led to less activity on the part of the samurai who, however, had to attend the court of the Shogun or commander of the army to render accounts on a regular basis. The catwalk or parade that they had to walk until they reached the commander gave rise to a desire to exhibit the samurai's armor as authentic works of art. Thus, the armor became a showcase for the arts of many craftsmen (embroiderers, blacksmiths, weavers, etc). At the end of the Heian period (794-1185), the first full armor as we know it today began to appear, constructed from iron plates joined with strips of leather and silk cords, which again allowed for increased mobility and lightness. In fact, the manufacture of armor became so complicated that by the 19th century it was considered an independent art, the "odoshi-gei". Thus, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the armor will include numerous variations designed to reflect the clan and rank to which the warrior who wore it belonged. Special mention should be made of the colors, not only because of their association with certain families, but also because of their symbolic content. In fact, the color white corresponds in Japanese culture to mourning, and if it appeared on a suit of armor it represented the conviction of leaving one's life in battle. This progressive complication generated, however, an important controversy, since the complexity of the silk and leather weaves made it easy for enemy weapons and projectiles to get caught in them during battle, and their nooks and crannies could harbor mold and parasites.