Study of the Lacquered ( Urushi ) and Gilded Leather Lamellae ( Kozane ) of the Haidate from Japanese Armour B54 in the Armeria Reale of Turin

The study of the thigh guards (haidate) of the Japanese armour B54, preserved at the Armeria Reale of Turin, was conducted to deepen the understanding of the manufacturing techniques of the protective lamellae (kozane) and to support the artifact’s conservation treatment. The applied multi-analytical campaign allowed us to affirm that the lamellae and the binding laces were made of leather covered with Japanese black lacquer (kuro-urushi) and that their front surface was gilded with leaf. Furthermore, thanks to bibliographic research and the experimental construction of the lamellae, it was possible to obtain important information on the different phases of traditional manufacturing, such as the preparation of the leather, the procedure, the materials and the tools necessary for lacquering with urushi and the leaf gilding technique.