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Item Location SAMURAI STORE Tokyo

Item# DN13
Antique suit of armor mid Edo period w/ Kōshu Tokubetsu Kichō Shiryō Certificate

A stunning antique armor on display at SAMURAI STORE TOKYO 

Antique Edo Period Black-Lacquered Mogami-Do Armor

Signed Saotome Iesada | Kōshu Tokubetsu Kichō Certified

The Second-Highest Certification Awarded by the Japanese Armor Research & Preservation Society

This impressive black-lacquered Tosei Gusoku samurai armor dates to the mid Edo period (17th–18th century) and is accompanied by a prestigious Kōshu Tokubetsu Kichō (甲種特別貴重資料) certificate issued by the Japan Armor & Arms Research and Preservation Society. This is one of the highest levels of certification issued by the organization, confirming the armor's authenticity, historical significance, and collectible importance.

The highlight of this armor is its magnificent Suji Kabuto (ridged helmet), expertly forged from 62 individual iron plates (Rokujūni-ken Suji Kabuto / 六十二間筋兜). Constructing a helmet from so many precisely fitted plates required extraordinary skill, making this one of the most sophisticated and desirable kabuto styles produced during the Edo period.

Even more significant, the helmet is signed "Jōshū-jū Saotome Iesada" (常州住早乙女家貞). The Saotome School is one of Japan's most celebrated lineages of armor makers, renowned for producing high-quality kabuto for samurai families from the late Muromachi period onward. Signed examples by Saotome craftsmen are highly sought after by collectors worldwide.

The fukigaeshi (helmet turnbacks) proudly display the elegant Kasane-Igeta (重ね井桁) family crest, adding aristocratic character and visual balance to the helmet. Throughout the armor, the rich black lacquer is complemented by finely woven dark blue lacing and refined gilt fittings, creating a dignified appearance that perfectly represents the aesthetic of a high-ranking Edo-period samurai.

The dō (cuirass) is constructed in the highly desirable Mogami-dō style, celebrated for its elegant silhouette and superior functionality. The armor is further enhanced by finely executed hassō kanagu (decorative shoulder fittings) and carefully applied fukurin (metal edge bindings), details that reflect the high standard of workmanship throughout the suit. The kusazuri (tassets) are reinforced with nerigawa (hardened leather) finished in black lacquer, a thoughtful feature that reduced weight and improved comfort and flexibility during wear while maintaining excellent durability.

Another particularly attractive feature is the haidate (thigh guards), which retain genuine tiger-skin odare (虎皮の於女里). The use of tiger hide was both luxurious and symbolic of martial prestige, and surviving examples preserving this original material are increasingly difficult to find today.

A certificate comes with this item. The Tokubetsu Kicho paper certificates granted by The Association for the Research and Preservation of Japanese Helmets and Armor, a.k.a Japan Armor Society. The storage boxes, display stand (new), and all pieces shown in the photos come with.

Possible Samurai Provenance

The fukigaeshi (helmet turnbacks) bear the elegant Kasane-Igeta (重ね井桁) family crest. While this crest was adopted by numerous samurai families throughout Japan and cannot, by itself, identify a specific clan, it is nevertheless a mark traditionally associated with established warrior lineages.

Combined with the helmet's signature, "Jōshū-jū Saotome Iesada," produced by the renowned Saotome armor-making school of Hitachi Province, the armor presents a compelling possibility that it was originally commissioned for, or later owned by, a samurai family of the Kantō region during the Edo period.

While the original owner can no longer be identified with certainty, the surviving heraldry and signed helmet preserve tantalizing clues to its samurai heritage, inviting collectors to appreciate not only the armor's craftsmanship but also the historical mystery that accompanies it.

Please don't hesitate to request additional photos or videos before purchasing this armor.

Also Comes With:
Wooden Display stand (new)

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