#dated: “A lucky day in February in the 7th year of Horyaku” (1757)

[artghutry]

GIUSEPPE PIVA'S RARE SAMURAI ARMOR

An exceptional samurai armor from the Inaba clan

Mid Edo period (1615 – 1867), 18th century

Helmet signed: “Masuda Myochin Minbu Ki no Munesada Saku” and dated: “A lucky day in February in the 7th year of Horyaku” (1757)

Provenance: Iyo no kami Inaba clan

The helmet is made in the style of a Kamakura period kabuto, with an 18 plates rounded bowl showing large protruding rivets. The exquisite parcel giltwood front decoration is shaped as a shachihoko, a mythical creature often represented as protection against fire. The neck guard is covered with a rare horsehair red and white decoration. The cuirass is richly decorated in maki-e lacquer over a black ground, with a red figure of Raijin—the god of Thunder—creating a storm beating his drums among clouds. The same black lacquer is used to cover all the other armor’s parts, except for the helmet’s bowl.

The Inaba family originated in 16th century Mino Province; during the Edo period, as hereditary vassals of the Tokugawa, the clan was classified fudai and its members were appointed daimyō of large and strategic provinces; they also covered various important administrative, political and military roles. Myochin Munesada, who signed and dated the kabuto, is reported to be son of the famous Muneakira; his works are very rare.

The armor was sold by dealer Giuseppe Piva during Asia Week New York 2016 to a private European collector.