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Samurai Commanders Suit of Armor.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Samurai Commanders Suit of Armor.
Late Edo/Early Meiji period. Hotoke Do Gusoku armor, lightweight, four peice, hinged smooth brown lacquered leather, with no sighs of Lames. Two Sai Hai No Kans (Rings) on breastplate."Commanders still carried fans with which to direct the movement of their troops; these were even more necessary since the wearing of masks made speech difficult. A new form of insignia, indicating rank, was introduced; it took the form of a tassel of hair or paper often gilded, which hung from a short batton. These sai hai were either tucked into the sash or hung from a ring (sai hai no kan) provided for that purpose on the right breast of the do. A second ring, supposedly for a towel but more probably simply to balance the appearance of the do, was added the left breast on some armours; this became virtually standard during the Edo period." Large blue Agemaki bow attached to Agemaki No Kan on rear plate. Mon (Family crest) on top of front plate. The Kote, made for protection of the hands & arms, consists of fabric covered with black lacquered metal plates attached to chain mail. Metal chrysanthemum symbol on each elbow. The thigh guards (Haidate) are attached to the Cuirass (*Do) consist of six sections with five lacquered leather plates (Lame) connected with double & triple sets of white laces.. The helmet is called Momonaki Kabuto which means peach shaped helmet. Since the end of the Muromachi period, this type of helmet became popular. It was easier to produce and more practical. In the beginning, this style of helmet was inspired by western style helmets. Categorized as Kawari Kabuto(extraordinary looking helmet). The two-plate black lacquered iron bowl of momonari [peach-shaped] form with a central raised ridge, the mabisashi [vistor] with hammered brow has a red lacquered underside, the fukigaeshi [turnbacks] are red lacquered in red , the four-tiered leather on iron shikoro [neck guard] with sugake odoshi [spaced lacing] in green braid, has Haidate (Fore crest bracket) Has original liner partly separated. Chin cord is a replacement. The shikoro has separated from the helmet, can be reattached.