A fine okegawa shichimai-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, 18th century

A fine okegawa shichimai-do gusoku [armour]

The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province)

Edo period, 18^th century

Kabuto [helmet]:

The fine sixty-two plate russet iron bowl with standing rivets and raised rivets, terminating in a seven-stage copper-gilt tehen kanamono of typical chrysanthemum form, stenciled Dutch leather mabisashi [peak], the fukigaeshi [turnbacks] similarly decorated and applied with copper-gilt tsuta mon [ivy crests], copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border], four-tiered black lacquer itamono-jikoro [solid plate neck guard] with spaced lacing in dark blue braid, the last tier applied in stenciled Dutch leather

Mempo [face mask]:

 The russet iron mempo well forged with flared nostirls and open mouth, detachable nose plate, horse bristle moustache, silver lacquer teeth, red lacquer interior, four-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] laced in matching braid

Do [cuirass]:

 The heavy iron cuirass composed of horizontal plates of tsure yamamichi [connected mountain path] form hinged in seven pieces, applied with three further tsuta mon, the upper section joined in spaced lacing in dark blue braid, seven tassets of five-tiered kusazuri [skirt]

Sode, kote [shoulder guards and sleeves]:

Five-tiered black lacquer shoulder guards], chainmail hyotan-gote [sleeves with gourd-form embellishments], silk brocade lining, the tekko [gauntlets] applied with further tsuta mon

Haidate, sune-ate [thigh protectors and shin guards]:

The thigh protectors with chainmail weave and silk lining, shino sune-ate

Accessories:

Accompanied by two armour storage box enclosed in wood frames for transport, four attestation and descriptive letters

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Society for the Preservation of Japanese Armour], dated Showa 57 (1982).