Collection
Suit of Armor with Red-lacquered Iron Plates and Blue Silk Lacing
| Suit of Armor with Red-lacquered Iron Plates and Blue Silk Lacing |
| Height of cuirass, 38.6 cm; Edo period, 18th century; Shiga Prefecture Tangible Cultural Property; Gift of the Ii Family |
One of the most richly decorated suits of armor owned by a head of the Ii family, this example belonged to eighth daimyo Ii Naosada (1702–1760). It features the use of medieval-era forms as seen in the ōsode shoulder guards and agemaki decorative tassel. The helmet has a pair of 80-centimeter high tentsuki attached on the sides, and another tall ornament representing iris leaves fitted on the front. Bold foliage and flower motifs in gold thread decorate the fabric of the gauntlets (kote).
