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.
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