Japanese samurai armour (Sendai-do no gusoko), c1735

Description

This is a suit of samurai armour made around 1735. The body is made from black lacquered steel on leather, while the helmet (kabuto) and face mask (yodare kake) are made from beaten metal. The armour includes shoulder guards (sode), sleeves (kote), gloves, thigh guards (haidate) and shin guards (suneate). Chainmail has been used on the sleeves and leg guards. The separate plates (lamella) are strung together with coloured silk and leather cords and decorated in places with silk trim. The armour measures 150 cm x 80 cm x 60 cm and weighs 10 kg.

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