Armor (Nimaidō Gusoku)

Armor inscribed Myōchin Muneakira Japanese
 Helmet inscribed Saotome Ietada Japanese
 Helmet crest and restorations by Hiromichi Miura Japanese

Not on view

Armor embossed in high relief came into vogue in the eighteenth century, a period of peace and stability under Tokugawa rule. With less concern about battlefield functionality, armorers explored new decorative possibilities, including embossing, a technique that would have compromised the armor’s defensive qualities, since it created catch points for an opponent’s weapons. The Myōchin, among the most well-known armor-making families of the period, specialized in this difficult but spectacular technique.

Armor (<i>Nimaidō Gusoku</i>), Armor inscribed Myōchin Muneakira (Japanese, Edo period, 1673–1745), Iron, copper, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), gold, silver, horn, leather, silk, Japanese

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Armor (<i>Nimaidō Gusoku</i>), Armor inscribed Myōchin Muneakira (Japanese, Edo period, 1673–1745), Iron, copper, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), gold, silver, horn, leather, silk, Japanese
Armor (<i>Nimaidō Gusoku</i>), Armor inscribed Myōchin Muneakira (Japanese, Edo period, 1673–1745), Iron, copper, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), gold, silver, horn, leather, silk, Japanese
Armor (<i>Nimaidō Gusoku</i>), Armor inscribed Myōchin Muneakira (Japanese, Edo period, 1673–1745), Iron, copper, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), gold, silver, horn, leather, silk, Japanese
Armor (<i>Nimaidō Gusoku</i>), Armor inscribed Myōchin Muneakira (Japanese, Edo period, 1673–1745), Iron, copper, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), gold, silver, horn, leather, silk, Japanese

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