IMPORTANT NOTICE: To celebrate our first year as professional sellers on catawiki and to thank all the customers who have made us grow with 100% positive feedback, during the first quarter of the year we will be offering high quality pieces for sale far below market value. Authentic pieces for the best collectors and enthusiasts at very low reserve prices as a thank you for this wonderful year! ABOUT US: At Supein Nihonto we strive to bring you high quality samurai swords and armors at prices far below the competition. We are probably the largest exporter in Europe and we are proud to anunce that we are number one TOP SELLER in Catawiki Samurai and Japanese auctions. This is especially important to save on taxes and waiting times that can exceed four months deliveries with Japanese sellers also headaches with tedious and sometimes problematic processes that further lengthen deliveries, even returning the parcel to its origin and more than 35% extra on the final price due the customs, tariffs and fees that increase the product but not the quality and the future resell. We are also professional sellers and therefore our satisfaction guarantee, knowledge and standards are superior to private sellers and with higher after sales guarantees. Thanks to this and the lowest professional prices in the industry plus our fast and efficient shipping method which rarely exceeds three days delivery in Europe, we are sure you will enjoy this great opportunity to own a piece of art that will appreciate in value for years to come and a great investment. Trust us to enjoy the samurai art. See my other samurai objects clicking on my seller`s name! Fabulous armor from Sengoku - Azuchi momoyama period of exceptional quality. Great Antique armor. The armor is in a magnificent state of preservation with the lacquer in very good condition and the fabrics and silks in a great state of preservation. Something really rare with objects more than 400 years old that have been used in battles. Fantastic combination of unusual colors. Bear fur, mother of pearl laquer and very expensive materials was used for made this armor so it was for a very high samurai rank of Asano Clan. It is a piece directly purchased from a great Japanese collector who exhibits and sells his pieces to major museums around the world. Undoubtedly a real treasure difficult to appreciate in the photos. I highly recommend it. The Sengoku Period (Sengoku Jidai, 1467-1568 CE), also known as the Warring States Period, was a turbulent and violent period of Japanese history when rival warlords or daimyo fought bitterly for control of Japan. The period falls within the Muromachi period (Muromachi Jidai, 1333-1573 CE) of Japanese medieval history when the Ashikaga shogun capital was located in the Muromachi area of Heiankyo (Kyoto). The beginning of the Sengoku period witnessed the Onin War (1467-1477 CE) which destroyed Heiankyo. The fighting that followed over the next century would eventually reduce the warlords to only a few hundred in number as the country was effectively carved up into princedoms. Eventually, one warlord rose above all his rivals: Oda Nobunaga, who set Japan on the road to unification from 1568 CE. The Asano clan (淺野氏, Asano-shi) was a Japanese samurai clan that descended from the Minamoto clan, and the Emperor Seiwa (850-881), the 56th Emperor of Japan. The Main Lineage (sōke, 宗家) were Lords (daimyō) of the Hiroshima Domain in Aki Province and another famous branch family were Lords of the Akō Domain in Harima Province associated with the story of the Forty-seven rōnin. Their inherited character is "長". The family came to prominence when the sister of Asano Nagamasa married Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Origins The Asano clan are a branch the Toki clan (土岐氏) who descend from Minamoto no Yorimitsu (源頼光) of the Seiwa Genji (清和源氏). The Toki clan's main residence was in the Toki District (土岐郡) of Mino Province from which they took their name. Minamoto no Mitsuhira (源光衡) was the third son of Minamoto no Mitsunaga (源光長) who was killed in battle during the Genpei War. His uncle Minamoto no Mitsumoto (源光基) adopted him and he founded the Toki clan becoming Toki Mitsuhira (土岐光衡). His first son Toki Mitsuyuki (土岐光行) continued the clan but his second son Toki Mitsutoki (土岐光時) took the name Asano and became founder of the Asano clan. He resided at Asano, Toki district (Mino province) and took the name of the place. Significant Members Asano Nagamasa (1526–1610), brother-in-law of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, fought for him in Japan and Korea Asano Yoshinaga (1556–1613), 1st son of Nagamasa. Also served under Hideyoshi, in both Japanese campaigns, and the Korean invasions Asano Nagaakira (1536–1632), brother of Yukinaga, first Asano lord of the Hiroshima Domain. Asano Naganori (1647–1701), lord of the Forty-seven rōnin The armour has gilded details that show the quality of the piece. The incredible workmanship accentuates such ornate pieces as the kabuto, the mempo and the Do. The stand to assemble it and the box are included. This armour is sure to delight any collector of Asian art and will be the focal point of any visitor's home, shop or office. Due to the delicacy of continuous assembly and disassembly, returns are not allowed on old armor. supeinnihonto.com Size - Life size