Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Ashmolean − Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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Shin guard from a samurai’s ceremonial suit of armouroblique

© Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

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Shin guard from a samurai’s ceremonial suit of armour

  • Description

    This suit of armour was made during the peaceful Edo period, when samurai wore armour only on ceremonial occasions, to show off their rank and wealth. It is made of small plates of lacquered metal laced together with silk cords. The armour is tough, flexible and much lighter than a European steel suit. The helmet is older than the rest of the armour: an inscription inside dates it to 1560.

  • Details

    show all
    Associated place
    Asia › Japan (place of creation)
    Date
    18th century (1701 - 1800)
    Material and technique
    iron, partly covered in lacquer
    Dimensions
    suit of armour 146 x 60 x 70 cm max. (height x width x depth)
    Material index
    processed material › metal › iron,
    organic › vegetal › resin › lacquer
    Technique index
    covered › coated › varnished › lacquered
    Object type index
    arms/armour › armour › shin-guard,
    religious/ritual equipment › ceremonial equipment
    No. of items
    1
    Credit line
    Lent by the President and Fellows of Magdalen College, University of Oxford.
    Accession no.
    LI358.1.m

Glossary

lacquer

  • lacquer

    Chinese and Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, which is indigenous to Eastern China. It is applied to wood as a varnish or for decorative effect. In India and the Middle East, lacquer is made from the deposit of the lac insect.

Location

    • Second floor | Room 37 | Japan

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

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