Armor (Tatami Gusoku)
Japan, Edo Period 17th-18th century
Armor of the "folding" (tatami) type could be contained in a small box and easily transported by one man. For this reason, it was usually intended for low-ranking infantrymen. The gold lacquer decoration and silk brocade lining of this example are unusual for armor of this type, however. They suggest that it was used by a samurai serving the Date family of Sendai, from whose armory it comes.