JAPANESE SUIT OF ARMOR TWO PLATE STANDING CUIRASS (HOTOKE NIMAI-DO GUSOKU).Edo period (18th - 19th century). Sixteen plate, dark brown lacquered, iron plate kabuto (helmet) fitted with a four-stage gilt-copper tehen kanamo (decorative ring on top of the bowl), with fukikaeshi (turnbacks) of applied stencilled leather with gilt-copper samurai family mon (crest), four-lame solid-plate iron neck guard laced in faded freen with orange trimmed bottom lame, condition fine; 14 in. front to rear; the iron menpo (face mask), non-matching (laced in black), one piece (nose not removable), most lacquer missing, with five lame leather throat guard, condition poor, 11 1/2 in., top to bottom; the armor, dark brown matching lacquer ni-mai-tachi-do (two plate cuirass) of kirisuki iyozane (false scales) with beige/green spaced lacing, seven section matching tassets, a bracket on back of the cuirass for a clan flag, condition good, 30 in., top to bottom; the oda gote (sleeves with iron plates) are lacquered with iron mail, 25 1/2 in., condition good, some lacquer flaking; the iyo haidate (thigh guards) and shino suneate (split shin guards) are matching lacquered iron plate, 12 in., good condition; the six lame chu-sode (shoulder guards), are matching lacquered iron plate, 10 in., good condition. Estimate $2,000-2,200
