Armor and Helmet with Paulownia Crests / Workshop of Mitsusada
About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 2006/1.146A-M
- Title
- Armor and Helmet with Paulownia Crests
- Artist
- Workshop of Mitsusada
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Medium and Support
- metal, lacquer, silk cords, and silk fabric
- Object Creation Date
- 19th century
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Japan (nation)
- Chubu (region)
- Gifu-ken (prefecture)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Japan (nation)
- Creation Place 3
- Chubu (region)
- Creation Place 4
- Gifu-ken (prefecture)
- Credit Line
- Gift of James Abbott
- Inscription
- Signature on the knee protectors: Satsuma koku jû jûichidai Mitsunobu saku (seal): Made by the eleventh generation Mitsunobu, who lives in the province of Satsuma (present day Kagoshima).
- Dimensions
- 152.4 cm x 67.31 cm x 59.69 cm (60 in. x 26 1/2 in. x 23 1/2 in.)
- Century
- 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Arms and Armor
- Primary Object Type
- suit of armor
- Secondary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Secondary Object Type
- suit of armor
- Physical Description
- The armor is comprised of a round helmet with a neck protector and a crescent-moon shaped ornament; a mask with fake mustache; an upper-body protector with sleeves from waist down and paulownia crest in the middle; a thigh cover; two metal leg protectors; two arm and hand protectors. The suit is stored in a black lacquered box with the gold crest.
- The helmet is made of red-painted metal lined with indigo-died cotton fabric and deer skin leather trim, which is attached to the metal helmet. The cotton is quilted with indigo-dyed cotton threads. There are two loops on side and one loop in the back, to hold a code for tying below the wearer’s chin. The code is indigo-dyed and then plaited; there are some fading areas. On the outside of helmet, the paulownia crest is on side flaps (to protect ears). There is a hole in the middle of the helmet for a head ornament. The metal leaves are interlaced with cotton strings. Ceremonial knots of yellow code on the back. It weights about 10 pounds.
- The helmet ornament is in crescent moon shape and made of lacquered wood in gold color. There is a slot on the back to place the ornament in the helmet. The slot is nailed to the wood; it looks like a later creation.
- The mask covers below the wearer’s eyes, ears, nose and mouth, and down to front neck. The upper part is made of metal; the neck is in metal pieces and cotton codes. The mustache is made of animal hair. The mouth has fake teeth painted with gold.
- The arm and hand protectors are made of red-painted metal shell and silk fabric with small flower motifs lined with deerskin and indigo-dyed cotton fabric. The shell is consisted of small metal panels connected with chains. The hand protectors have three different crests. The protectors are tied with indigo dyed cotton codes on back.
- The leg protectors are also made of red-painted metal with silk fabric lining. On the metal surface of each piece, there are the artist’s signature and seal.
- The body is consisted of metal panels, lacquered with gold in design of peonies and vines. The family crest appears in the middle. Metal knots are in chrysanthemum design. Inside is lined with leather printed with lions and peonies. The shoulder pads are made of cotton quilt in tortoise shell design.
- The apron for thighs is made of silk fabric quilt and metal panels. The metal panels protect thighs. The apron belt is made of cotton kasuri; the back is lined with indigo dyed cotton.
- The thick belt for the body is made of padded silk fabric.
- Subject Matter
- Elaborate suit of armors were produced since the mid-Heian period (794 - 1185) throughout the Edo period (1615 - 1868) in Japan. Battle field was a place to show one's wealth and lineage, as well as heroism; armors thus embodied sophisticated taste and high craftsmanship. Often times flamboyance was emphasized more than practicality. The large crescent-moon ornament on the helmet here is a good example. The family crests such as this paulownia crest are often decorated on the armor since they indicate the lineage of the samurai. The household of this armor's original owner may have been a retainer of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a military ruler of Momoyama period (1583-1615).
- Secondary Keywords
- costume
- costume by function
- descriptors
- design elements
- heraldic motifs
- motifs
- natural element motifs
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by occupation
- people in military occupations
- protective wear
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 2592 x 3888
- File Size
- 1 MB
- Record
- 2006/1.146A-M
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2006-sl-1.146a-m/2006_1.146.jpg
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- Full citation
-
"Armor and Helmet with Paulownia Crests; Workshop of Mitsusada." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2006-sl-1.146a-m/2006_1.146.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 18, 2024.
