Colours of Japan: 16th Century Samurai Armour

As part of its Colours of Japan exhibition, the Legocity Natural History Museum is highlighting some majestic artefacts.

The centerpiece of the exhibition is this samurai armour dating from the end of the Sengoku Jidai period (late 16th century). At that time, Japanese lords were rivals, and in order to stand out from the crowd, they vied with each other in the originality of their armour. Armour became the warrior's identity.

This armour is quite exceptional. It is not the armour of a great lord, but rather that of a simple nobleman. It is nonetheless magnificent and incredibly well preserved. The helmet is a Zunari model, rather late in the period, while the fully laced armour is of a rather old style. 

The Colours of Japan exhibition explores the use of colours in Japanese culture and traditions, from samurai to manga. The exhibition runs from 1 February to 21 March at the Legocity Museum of Natural History.