Armor (Rokumai-Dō Gusoku) with Box

late 17th century; cuirass dated 1689

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 377

This armor is a rare example of a type designed by Noguchi Tō’emon Zesai, a late seventeenth-century military strategist and fencing teacher, who subcontracted the making of the various armor parts to various specialized craftsmen. Zesai was active at a pivotal moment in the history of Japanese armor making. About half a century after the last major battle had been fought on Japanese soil in 1636 during the otherwise peaceful Edo period (1615–1868), Zesai was one of the last to focus on the practical use of armor. After his active period, the demand for newly made arms and armor further declined, and the focus of production shifted towards ostentatious presentation and parade armors made for Daimyō and high-ranking Samurai, often reviving medieval styles.

Artwork Details

Title: Armor (Rokumai-Dō Gusoku) with Box
Date: late 17th century; cuirass dated 1689
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, leather, lacquer, textile, wood, bear fur
Dimensions: H. approx. 55 in. (140 cm)
Classification: Armor
Credit Line: Gift of Rosemarie and Leighton R. Longhi, in honor of John Carpenter, 2023
Object Number: 2023.735.1a–o
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Helmet in the Shape of a Crouching Rabbit, Iron, lacquer, silver, gold, leather, silk, Japanese — Helmet in the Shape of a Crouching Rabbit
Japanese
17th century

Helmet (<i>Hoshi- Kabuto</i>) in the 16th-Century Style, Saotome Ienari Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, Japanese — Helmet (*Hoshi- Kabuto*) in the 16th-Century Style
Saotome Ienari
probably late 17th–early 18th century

Mask, Myōchin Muneakira Japanese, Iron, lacquer, textile (silk), Japanese — Mask
Myōchin Muneakira
dated 1745

Equestrian Equipment (Saddle, Stirrups, Bit, Harness, Saddle Seat, Saddle Pads, Saddle Flaps, and Dipper), Wood, lacquer, gold, leather, iron, textile, silk, Japanese — Equestrian Equipment (Saddle, Stirrups, Bit, Harness, Saddle Seat, Saddle Pads, Saddle Flaps, and Dipper)
Japanese
ca. 1700

Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Myōchin Munesuke Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, copper, gold, Japanese — Armor (*Gusoku*)
Myōchin Munesuke
early 18th century

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.