A Mori okegawa nimai-do gusoku [armour] | The helmet signed Joshu-ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province) | Edo period, late 17th century

A Mori okegawa nimai-do gusoku [armour] 

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

Edo period, late 17^th century 

the sixty-two plate iron bowl with raised ridges, with five-stage copper-gilt tehen kanamono of chrysanthemum form, fitted with copper-gilt igaki pierced with boar's eye, the mabisashi [peak] with standing rivets, applied with shakudo carved, chased and engraved with peonies before unfurling foliage in European manner, the fukurin imitating cord, the fukigaeshi [turnbacks] applied with maru ni hitotsu yahazu mon [single arrow nock within circle crest], five-tier leather shikoro [neck guard] with spaced lacing in purple braid, the maedate of gold, red and black lacquer in the form of a dragon head, metal kuwagata, the kuwagata-dai with further peonies and foliage, the mempo black lacquer with detachable nose plate, the mouth agape and nostrils flared, red lacquer interior, accompanied with a hanbo [half mask] similarly decorated. five-tier yodaregake [throat protector], the heavy do [cuirass] hinged in two parts and comprising horizontal lacquered iron plates, the broad o-sode [large shoulder guards] of seven tiers, chainmail kote [sleeves], seven tassets of five tiered kusazuri [skirt], the underskirt in hemp, mail and lacquer plates, shino suneate [shin guards], the black lacquer fan (sensu) decorated in gold hiramaki-e with further maru ni hitotsu yahazu mon and opening to reveal a red hi no maru [circular sun] on a gold ground, the verso decorated inversely, with an armour storage box and modern softwood armour stand

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo (Important Cultural Material), no. 430 issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Heisei 4 (1992).