Armor (Tatami Gusoku) with Sword, Sword Carrier, Dagger, and Spear
Armor of the “folding” (tatami) type could be contained in a small box and easily transported by one man. For this reason, it usually was intended for low-ranking infantrymen. However, the gold lacquer decoration and silk brocade lining of this example are unusual for armors of this type and suggest that it was used by a samurai serving the Date family of Sendai, from whose armory it comes.
Artwork Details
- Title: Armor (Tatami Gusoku) with Sword, Sword Carrier, Dagger, and Spear
- Date: 17th–18th century
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Armor: iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper; dagger: steel, shark skin, bronze, gold, lacquer; foot defenses: iron, leather; sword: steel; sword carrier: leather, silk, textile; spear: steel, wood, mother-of-pearl, lacquer, silver, bear fur
- Dimensions: H. of armor 63 in. (160.0 cm)
- Classification: Armor for Man
- Credit Line: armor: Gift of Bashford Dean, 1914; dagger: Gift of Brayton Ives and W.T. Walters, 1891; foot defenses: Rogers Fund, 1904; sword: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935; sword carrier: Gift of Dr. George M. Lefferts, 1910
- Object Number: 14.100.538a–k; 04.4.49, .50; 36.25.1753...
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.