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Armor (Nimai-Dō Gusoku) with Box

late 16th–early 17th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 377
With its striking red color, the armor belongs to a style that is referred to as Akazonae (lit. “red arms”). Akazonae was a troop formation that emerged in the sixteenth century, of which all members were entirely clad in red, even including the banner. As the red color stood out prominently on the battlefield and came from cinnabar, a then expensive product with limited availability, Akazonae armors were mostly restricted to elite forces and were passed down as a symbol of honor and bravery from generation to generation.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Armor (Nimai-Dō Gusoku) with Box
  • Date: late 16th–early 17th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Iron, leather, lacquer, textile, wood
  • Dimensions: H. approx. 67 1/2 in. (171.5 cm)
  • Classification: Armor
  • Credit Line: Gift of Rosemarie and Leighton R. Longhi, in honor of John Carpenter, 2023
  • Object Number: 2023.735.3a–p
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Bamen Tomotsugu Japanese, Iron, lacquer, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), silver, silk, horse hair, ivory, Japanese, Toyohara, Echizen province
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Armor (<i>Nimai-Dō Gusoku</i>) with Box, Iron, leather, lacquer, textile, wood, yak hair, boar bristle, hemp, Japanese
Armor (Nimai-Dō Gusoku) with Box
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