Samurai Thigh Guard

Armored samurai thigh guard (kawara haidate) of overlapping plates. The two joined panels hang below the cuirass to protect the thighs. The exterior fabric is gold with gold brocade in a flower pattern and the interior fabric is dark blue. The fabric is generally in poor condition. The upper sections have strips of reinforcing stenciled leather (chikara-gawa) from the upper edges to the mid-point, then a horizontal strip from one side to the other. The entire guard is edged with tan leather. The upper edge is closed with blue fabric that extends to form straps that tie around the wearer's waist. A short, blue cord is attached at the center, between the two panels, to attach the thigh guard to the rest of the armor. On the lower section of each panel, the armored portion is made up of four rows of overlapping, black-lacquered tiles. The tiles are connected to one another with three rows of lacing which are lacquered over.