This suit of armour was made during the peaceful Edo period, when samurai wore armour only on ceremonial occasions, to show off their rank and wealth. It is made of small plates of lacquered metal laced together with silk cords. The armour is tough, flexible and much lighter than a European steel suit. The helmet is older than the rest of the armour: an inscription inside dates it to 1560.
lacquer
Chinese and Japanese lacquer is made from the sap of the lacquer tree, which is indigenous to Eastern China. It is applied to wood as a varnish or for decorative effect. In India and the Middle East, lacquer is made from the deposit of the lac insect.
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