@metmuseum: Armor with a surprise! ⚔️ This exceptionally crafted Japanese armor or gusoku was created not for the battlefield but to signal wealth. It is an outstanding example of late Edo period (19th century) armor that revives traditional styles from before the sixteenth century. During the Edo period, a time of relative peace and stability, the practical use of armor decreased. High-ranking warriors who could afford a new suit focused on its decorative aspect. Although several examples exist where parts of an armor include compartments, the use of a medicine container with a spoon and an inkstone with a brush is unique and not seen on any other known suit. — 🪶 “Helmet bowl” by Neo Masanobu 根尾正信 (Japanese, active early 18th century), “Armor (Gusoku) with Box,” 19th century; helmet bowl, early 18th century. Iron, leather, lacquer, textile, silver, gold, brass, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), feather, wood, glass, boar bristle. Gift of Rosemary and Leighton R. Longhi, in honor of John Carpenter, 2023 (2023.735.5a–y). On view in Gallery 377.

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Friday 19 September 2025 16:50:00 GMT