A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] and a mempo [face mask] | Signed Joshu ju Saotome Ienaga (Saotome Ienaga, a resident of Hitachi province) | Edo period, 17th century

The Property of a European Collector

A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] and a mempo [face mask]

Signed Joshu ju Saotome Ienaga (Saotome Ienaga, a resident of Hitachi province)

Edo period, 17^th century 

the sixty-two plate russet iron bowl with raised ridges, terminating in a four-stage copper-gilt tehen kanamono, plain russet iron mabisashi [peak] and small fukigaeshi [turnbacks], four-tiered sabiji-nuri [simulated russet iron] lacquer shikoro [neck guard] with kebiki odoshi [close-spaced lacing] in dark blue braid, copper maedate [forecrest] in the form of a crescent moon, the sabiji-nuri [simulated russet iron] lacquered iron ressei mempo [face mask with fierce expression] forged with deep wrinkles, flared nostrils and open mouth, detachable nose plate, broad yak hair moustache, silver lacquer teeth, red lacquered interior, four-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] in matching braid, this lot is sold with a wood helmet stand as illustrated

The bowl to peak: 29 cm., 11⅜ in.

The shikoro to peak: 35.5 cm., 14 in.

The mempo: 17.5 cm., 6⅞ in. wide