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Samurai Armored Sleeves (Kote)

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:150.00 USD Estimated At:300.00 - 500.00 USD
Samurai Armored Sleeves (Kote)
Kote is protection for arms and hands. During the Kamakura period, most of Samurai used Katagote (Armed sleeve for only left arm) to shoot arrows on horseback. However, when Samurai started to fight with swords such as Katana on the ground more frequently in the Nanbokucho Period, Morokote (Armed sleeves for both arms) became the mainstream because of its utility. There is a cylindrical shaped fabric for each arm and iron chain mail and some iron plates were attached to increase its strenght. This Kote was approximately made in the late Edo period. The fabric part was dyed with indigo blue, (now faded) which was a winning color for Samurai. On top of the fabric part, there are beautiful chain mails. The hand protection is made of iron and coated with lacquer. And it has plum paddle decoration. Interestingly, green cloth inserts are inside these sleeves to keep the shape. Intact with chips to the lacquer.