A dazzling array of armour and swords of breathtaking beauty from the 14th to the 19th centuries, forms part of Bonhams’ inaugural specialist sale of Fine Japanese Art on November 6th, New Bond Street, London.

Suzannah Yip, head of Japanese art at Bonhams says: "These are as much works of art as they are military accoutrements. The detail and aesthetics of these implements of war and war costumes, could only be Japanese in their superior quality and effectiveness, light and strong and beautiful all at once. They represent a dark time in Japanese history yet are beautiful to behold. If only they could speak what stories they could tell!"

Lot No: 330. Armour. A hishinui do tosei gusoku. Late Edo Period, 19th century
The black lacquered momonari kabuto (peach shaped helmet) constructed in four pieces with a broad central ridge, the two rear plates pierced with two heart shaped inome (boars eye) edged with gilt copper, black lacquered five stage itamono jikoro (solid plate neck guard) the interior lacquered red. Mabisashi and fukigaeshi (peak and earpieces) covered in shobugawa (iris leather) gilt kutsuwa mon (horse bit badge) of the Shimazu family on the fukigaeshi and as a mayedate (fore crest). A black lacquered menpo (mask) with hair moustache and five lame yodarekake (throat defence). The do (cuirass) of black lacquered horizontal plates with blue hishinui (cross knots), black lacquered ko-sode (shoulder guards), black lacquered shino gote (sleeves), kawara haidate (thigh guards) and shino suneate (shin guards). Unusually laced in yoseikake sugake (groups of lacing spaced vertically) largely in blue highlighted with areas of green, mauve and white. Together with armour box. Estimate: £7,000 - 8,000, €10,000 - 11,000

Lot No: 331. A composite armour. Late Edo Period, 19th century
Comprising a black lacquered suji bachi kabuto (ridged bowl helmet) the mabisashi and fukigaeshi (peak and turnbacks) covered in shobu gawa (iris leather) the mabisashi with a kuwagata dai and kuwagata (horn stand and horns) with a gilded wood dragon mayedate at the centre, the fukigaeshi with a crossed hawk feather mon (badge), to the rear a three lame ko-manju jikoro (neckguard) laced alternately in green, white and yellow sugake (spaced) style. Black lacquered iron mask with hair moustache and chin tuft. A mune tori okegawa do black lacquered with two bands of gold to the front and sides, the muneita (upper chest plates) laced in green and white. Ko sode (small shoulder guards) gold lacquered and laced in green kebiki odoshi (close lacing). Shino gote (sleeves) matching, karuta gane haidate (thigh guards) and gold lacquered shino suneate (shin guards). Together with an armour box. Estimate: £2,500 - 3,000, €3,600 - 4,300

Lot No: 332^. Armour. A haramaki do gusoku. Late Edo Period, 19th century
The fourteen plate low rounded oboshi hachi kabuto (helmet with large rivet heads) in russet iron fitted with a four lame o-manju jikoro (neck guard), to the front a gold lacquered mayedate (fore crest) in the form of horns. Mabisashi and fukigaeshi (peak and turn backs) covered with printed leather. Black lacquered menpo (mask) with long white hair moustache and side whiskers. The do (cuirass) of haramaki style opening at the back with a separate sei ita (back plate) to cover the gap. O-sode (large shoulder guards). Gyoyo (leaf shaped plates to protect the shoulder cord fastenings on the do), karuta gane gote (sleeves), kawara haidate (thigh guards) and shino suneate (shin guards) laced overall in dark blue kebiki odoshi (close lacing). Together with an armour box. Estimate: £12,000 - 15,000, €17,000 - 22,000

Lot No: 333. Armour. A warabe no o-yoroi (armour for a boy). Meiji Period
A russet iron hoshi bachi (helmet with standing rivet heads) covered in four places with gilded copper, to the front a kuwagata dai and kuwagata (horn stand and horns) with a dragon mayedate (fore crest) at the centre. A five lame o-manju jikoro (large neck guard) the upper four rows turned back to form fukigaeshi. Russet iron menpo (mask). The do (cuirass) of o-yoroi type with three kusazuri (tassets) on the main portions and one on the separate side plate, the front of the do covered with printed leather with a design of Fudo (a Buddhist divinity) the cords to the front protected by sendan and kyubi no ita (two plates, one solid and one flexible). O-sode (large shoulder guards), Yoshitsune gote (sleeves), haidate (thigh guards), o-tateage suneate (shin guards) and kutsu (fur boots). Laced overall in red kebiki odoshi (close lacing) and lavishly decorated with gilded copper mounts. Contained in a six-legged armour box. Estimate: £1,800 - 2,500, €2,600 - 3,600 

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Bonhams. Fine Japanese Art NBS, 6 Nov 2007 - www.bonhams.com