The kabuto by Myochin Nobuie (1486-1564), signed Nobuie saku, dated 1557
Japan, 16^th century, Koji period (1555-1558)

Constructed of honkozane lacquered gold and predominantly laced in orange and red, white omodaka odoshi style, tthe o-yoroi adorned with the 5–3 paulownia (Go-san no Kiri) mon crest worked in gilt-bronze against a nanako ground. Comprising a russet-iron thirty-two plate koboshi kabuto with a six-tiered chrysanthemum-form tehen kanamono, the mabizashi lacquered gold and fitted with a stylized gilt wood uma-jirushi (battle standard) maedate which is framed by a partially reticulated kuwagata incised with foliage and fitted to the center with the Oda family’s mon, the fukigaeshi similarly applied with mons raised on kiku medallions on a printed leather ground, decorated to the corners with en-suite embosses, all above the five-lame shikoro with three mons to the bottom lame; a black-lacquered iron menpo with facial hair, laced with a two-lame yodarekake fitted with a matching crest-appliqué; a two-lame nodowa; the cuirass is o-yoroi style, the do open at the right side and with a waidate plate, with seven sections of five-lame kusazuri, the front with two and the back with one large age’maki (decorative tassel) strung from en-suite cord-rings; a pair of o-type seven-lame sode fitted with crest-appliqués to the bottom corners and adorned with orange silk cords with decorative tassels; a pair of haidate; a pair of reticulated and incised metal yoshitsune-type kote and tekko fitted with paulownia crests; a pair of iron suneate with protruding wing-like metal tateage, connected by butterfly-shaped hinges, and fitted with paulownia crests and shishi; and a pair of kegutsu.

Inscriptions: Signed to the interior of the kabuto, ‘Koji sannen, Nobuie saku’ [Made by Nobuie, in the 3rd year of the Koji era (corresponding to 1557)] 弘治三年、信家作.

Condition: Very good condition with wear commensurate with age, the lacquer with expected cracks and flaking. Some fraying to fabric, soiling, and tiny losses. Minor touchups. Overall presenting very well.

With a wood storage box.

The paulownia mon has over 140 variations, one of the most common being the 5-3 paulownia (Go-san no Kiri), adopted as the ‘everyman’ crest. Today, it is found in the emblems of the Ministry of Justice, the Imperial Guard Headquarters, and the University of Tsukuba. Previously used alongside the Kiku-mon as the mon of the Imperial Family, it was later granted by Emperor Go-Daigo to Ashikaga Takauji after he captured Kyoto during the failed Kenmu Restoration. Generally, it was worn by anyone who can govern Japan as a nation, or in the context of the Sengoku era, who can capture the then-Imperial Capital of Kyoto. Because of this, when Oda Nobunaga drove the Miyoshi clan out of the Imperial Capital, the Kirimon was given to him by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

The Oda were effectively eclipsed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi following Nobunaga's death, it is not often known that the Oda continued to be a presence in Japanese politics. One branch of the family became hatamoto retainers to the Tokugawa shogun, while other branches became minor daimyo lords.

Museum comparison:
A closely related sujiachi kabuto with similar partially reticulated kuwagata, by Myochin Nobuie, is in the collection of the Royal Collection Trust, accession number RCIN 61765.

Auction comparison:
Compare a related o-yoroi armor, with the kabuto by Myochin Munemasa and the o-sode attributed to Myochin Nobuie, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese and Korean Art, 14 September 2016, New York, lot 279 (sold for USD 37,500).