Red-lacquered two-plate cuirass armor with Daruma decoration

Japan

17th century

Lacquered iron, boar's fur, horsehair

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A full suit of Japanese samurai armor is displayed, featuring a red lacquered helmet with a crescent crest and a fearsome mask. The armor is adorned with intricate patterns and a depiction of a face on the chest plate. Because of its striking red color, this armor belongs to a style that is referred to as akazonae (“red arms”). The cuirass (dō), or breastplate, is constructed in two parts and is finished to a smooth surface, evoking the belly of a sculpted Buddha. At its center, front and back, are paintings in black lacquer representing the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma (Daruma in Japanese). Elements throughout this armor are finished in a special type of lacquer decoration called byakudan-nuri, which creates a translucent amber-like depth that reveals gold beneath the surface. Gallery Not on View The Mary Griggs Burke Endowment Fund established by t