{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1153658"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1153658/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EE5756/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2010EE5756/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2010EE5756","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EE5755","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EE5762","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EE5761","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EE5760","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EE5754","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2010EE5753","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1153658/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1153658","accessionNumber":"FE.11-2009","objectType":"Helmet","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This superbly crafted Japanese helmet is of the type known as <i>suji-bachi</i> (ridged bowl) and is made from 120 patinated russet iron plates riveted vertically; consequently the helmet is extremely heavy. The inscription inside the helmet reads 'Joshu (modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture) Suifu ju Yoshihide Saku'; the armourer is not recorded, but was likely to be of the Myochin school, one of three main groups of armourers who worked in Joshu province. \r\n\r\nThe circular top fitting (<i>tehen no ana</i>) is of <i>shakudo</i>, an alloy of copper and gold which is patinated to a rich blue-black hue. The leading edges of the flexible neck-protector (<i>shikoro</i>) are of fine pierced <i>shakudo</i> with a design of chrysanthemums and backed by gilded copper plates. The sixteenth century warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi described <i>shakudo</i> as having 'the colour of rain on a crow's wing'. The edges of the peak and the leading edges of the side curved fittings (<i>fukigaeshi</i>) are also of <i>shakudo</i> with finely engraved floral decoration; they also have round decoration in <i>shakudo</i> of stylised hollyhock leaves, the family crest of Tokugawa family, the samurai clan who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868. \r\n\r\nThis was a period of relative peace in Japan after the victory of Tokugawa Ieyasu at the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 which paved the way for the rule of the Tokugawa Shoguns. From 1615, when Tokugawa defeated his last enemies at the Battle of Osaka Castle, the samurai class had little further occasion to test their skills in battle but were nevertheless required to maintain their military arts. Armour was increasingly relegated to a ceremonial role, not least on the annual samurai processions from their regional domains to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and the Tokugawa court. Decoration and appearance took precedence over practicality and armourers had the opportunity to develop their skills and their patrons could reveal personal taste in the fine fittings of their processional armour.","physicalDescription":"120-plate russet iron helmet with neck-guard (J. <i>shikoro</i>)","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Yoshihide","id":"A30298"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"},{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"},{"text":"leather","id":"AAT11845"},{"text":"lacquer","id":"AAT14916"},{"text":"silk","id":"AAT14072"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Iron, patinated copper fittings, stencilled leather, lacquer and silk braiding","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Arms & Armour","id":"THES48992"}],"styles":[{"text":"Edo","id":"AAT106656"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2010EE5756","2010EE5755","2010EE5762","2010EE5761","2010EE5760","2010EE5754","2010EE5753"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"45","id":"THES49801"},"free":"","case":"CA002","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"helmet","id":"AAT36794"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Ibaraki","id":"x32700"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1700 to 1800","earliest":"1700-01-01","latest":"1800-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Accepted by HM Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria and Albert Museum; in memory of H. R. Robinson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"425","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Joshu Suifu ju Yoshihide Saku","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"Made by Yoshihide, resident of Suifu in Joshu province","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Joshu Province was mostly in what is now modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture"}],"objectHistory":"The provenance of this helmet is interesting; it was given to Basil William Robinson (1912 - 2005) around 1953 by H R Robinson (no relation), Keeper at the Royal Armouries in the Tower of London. B W Robinson (known generally as 'Robbie'), joined the V&A's staff in 1939 and was Keeper of the Department of Metalwork from 1966 until his retirement in 1972, and then Keeper Emeritus until 1976. He helped establish the V&A's Far Eastern Department - the first culturally based curatorial collection in the V&A. \r\n\r\nIt was Robbie's wish that his long friendship with his counterpart at the Royal Armouries would be marked by the donation of this helmet to the V&A, and this was achieved under the AIL Scheme. The Government's 'Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) Scheme', administered by Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, enables taxpayers to transfer important works of art and other heritage objects into public ownership while paying Inheritance Tax, or one of its earlier forms. The taxpayer is given the full open market value of the item, which is then allocated to a public museum, archive or library.\n\r\n","historicalContext":"H R Robinson (formerly Keeper of the Royal Armouries)","briefDescription":"120-plate russet iron helmet with neck-guard, Yoshihide, 1700 to 1800, Joshu Province, Japan","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Joshu Province is in modern-day Ibaraki Prefecture","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["FE.11-2009"],"accessionNumberNum":"11","accessionNumberPrefix":"FE","accessionYear":2009,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-08","recordCreationDate":"2010-01-20","availableToBook":false}}