Tokugawa Ieyasu’s “Spare” Golden Armor
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542–1616) was known as a young man for his gilded suit of armor. This suit was made as a spare in case the first was damaged. Aside from the color, it is typical of armor made in the late 1500s. The solid, rounded plates that cover the front and back of the torso provided protection from firearms, which were commonly used at the time. The two plates are connected with hinges on the left side of the body and with ties on the right. Most of the cording has been replaced, except for that across the chest, which is original. Unlike the other suit of armor, this one is coated with clear lacquer and has a rich golden color that is almost orange.
Important Cultural Property