Dura Europos leather lamellar cuisse

[Gaius Decius Aquilius]

These look somewhat like Japanese haidate of the ita type. They are thigh guards and worn by the strap around the waist. Many were made of laquered leather and there is no doubt about them being both tough and durable. The period of usage was from circa 1300 through the 1800s, amd since Japanese armor manufacture was never suspended, continue to be made into the present.

I have one of these laquered leathered pieces and have no doubt about it's utility.

A cord was passed around the neck and looped on the center of the haidate, where the leg sections meet to help with the suspension.

Ralph