Armor (Nimai-Dō Gusoku) with Box

late 16th–early 17th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 377

With its helmet of wild hair style (ranpatsu-nari) featuring striking tall lateral crests and following an overall contrasting color scheme of reddish-brown persimmon lacquer and blue and black, this armor is a typical example of suits from the Momoyama period (1573–1615). Armors from that era reflect an adaption to changes in warfare, such as the use of larger contingents of troops, which necessitated more distinctive forms that would aid in making individual commanders more recognizable on the battlefield. Ishida Mitsunari (1559–1600), the wearer of this armor, rose in ranks during numerous battles he fought for Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537–1598), the second of three powerful warlords who consecutively unified Japan after a century of political upheaval and nearly constant military conflicts. After Hideyoshi’s death, Mitsunari defended the legacy of the Toyotomi clan, but was defeated in 1600 by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616) and executed after being caught trying to escape.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Armor (Nimai-Dō Gusoku) with Box
Date: late 16th–early 17th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, leather, lacquer, textile, wood, yak hair, boar bristle, hemp
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: 2023.735.2a–n
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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