Samurai Arm Guard

Right sleeve of a black-lacquered, iron, splint style samurai arm guards (shino-gote). The exterior fabric is made of brown cloth with alternating panels of geometric patterns and gentian flowers, possibly indicative of a family crest (mon). The interior fabric is blue. The fabrics are joined at an edge of blue and white leather. The black-lacquered cap plate (kanmuri-no-ita) at the shoulder is split into three sections. Two tan cords pierce the central plate to attach to toggles on a shoulder guard. The sleeve is tightened and tied on the inner arm with tan silk cords.

Mail (kusari) made of small, circular links connects iron splints (shino) on the upper and lower arms. The upper arm has 20 square plates (karuta) arranged in five rows of four plates each. Upper arm plates are coated with black lacquer, then covered with gold leaf over a rippled texture (tataki nuri). The lower arm has three long splints, each coated with black lacquer. The hand guard (tekko) is made of four black-lacquered, iron plates. The elbow plate (hijigane), also covered in gold leaf, is designed to look like a chrysanthemum flower. Lacquer on plates is in generally poor condition with rust showing through.