A very nice pair of russet iron armored sleeves or kote (籠手) from the Kaga region, adorned with kirigane (切金), or decorative iron applications. The kirigane consist of 11 different finely-cut mons and 20 appliques per kote. The kirigane served a dual purpose, adding tasteful artistic refinements, while also improving the protection for the arms. Hand protection or tekkō is of typical structure, consisting of 4 plates covering the back of the hand, knuckles, thumb and thumb tip. Plates are adorned with small kirigane, and the hand plate has a single copper mon of 3 holly leaves. Forearm protection consists of 5 splint plates or shino-gane. The elbow has a hiji-gane plate and the upper arm has a central gourd-shaped plate called a hyōtan-gane surrounded by small hexagonal plates or ikada-gane floating in the chain mail - all of which have the kirigane mon appliqué. There are 3 hinged shoulder flanges or kanmuri no ita, all with applied kirgane.
The chain mail is in very good shape, and most connecting ringlets afixing the various plates are intact. The backing fabric and lacing are also in very good shape, all loops and horn toggles to afix the kote are preserved. The deep blue indigo dye is uniform and unstained. Overall a great set of kote, with characteristic quality workmanship of the Kaga smiths. They would be perfect additions to an existing dou, or highly presentable by themselves.
Mid Edo Period (江戸時代), 18th century
$1900
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