Collection
Suit of Armor with Red-lacquered Iron Cuirass in Hotoke-Nimaidō Style
| Suit of Armor with Red-lacquered Iron Cuirass in Hotoke-Nimaidō Style |
| Height of cuirass 37.0 cm; Momoyama period, late 16th century; Shiga Prefecture Tangible Cultural Property; Gift of the Ii Family |
The helmet in this suit consists of several iron plates riveted together. The cuirass is in the clamshell (nimai-dō) style and is finished to a smooth surface evoking the smooth chest of a sculpted Buddha (hotoke). The lower torso protector is made up of a row of plates. The integration of gauntlet and sleeve made the armor suitable for actual fighting. The helmet has no tentsuki, the horn-like ornaments that customarily adorned helmets belonging to the head of the Ii family. This suit is believed to have been worn by Hikone domain founder Ii Naomasa (1561–1602) at the Battle of Sekigahara.
