19th Century Miniature samurai armor

Ni-mai do tosei gusoku

Second half of Edo Period (1615-1867)

19th Century

Height: 86 cm

During the 17th Century samurai families used to display a set of helmet and armor, weapons and banners outdoors on the Tango-no-Sekku Festival (The Boy’s Festival), held on the fifth day of the fifth month, designated as an important ceremonial day by the Edo Shogunate Government. Later in the Edo period these items, except for the banners, were moved indoor, on rooms facing the street. The style of displaying varied in accordance and the armors gradually became miniaturized, thus keeping splendid decorations on, as such armors and helmets were also to display the prosperity of their household.

The construction of this rare item is exactly that of a regular tosei gusoku. No shortcut or simplifications have been used and it seems it is a sort of skill proof by some good armorer or the Edo period.
The style of the armor suggests a date around the early 19th century.

On this page is a comprehensive glossary of common terms related to samurai armor.