David Thatcher Art

25/05/2026

SAMURAI - Release date 12th June 2026
Standard Edition
www.davidthatcherart.com

220 pages
A4
32 Kabuto
17 Hachi
25 Menpō
16 Armours
23 Jingasa
10 Colour Plates
4 Line Drawings

23/05/2026

www.davidthatcherart.com
Takeda Iron is based on Takeda Katsuyori, the warlord who survived the disaster of Nagashino in 1575. The battle shattered the Takeda army and claimed many of its greatest commanders, yet Katsuyori lived on and continued the struggle. This design is about that harder kind of courage: not the glory of winning, but the discipline to stand up after defeat, lift the chin and move forwards.

Printed via DTG for the very best quality. Free shipping.

23/05/2026

A full Sōmen made by Munehiro. In stock, DM me if interested.

16/05/2026

I took a photo of this armour over 20yrs ago, then in 2026 I was able to return to The Watanabe Museum in Tottori Japan and take some additional reference photos. Now after all these years I can finally illustrate how it would have looked when being worn.

27/02/2024

Here is a video showcasing a Mogami-dō gusoku that was papered in 2022.

22/02/2024

22/02/2024

The Society is thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of one of our premier volumes on Japanese Armour. This initial publication will specifically highlight kabuto helmets crafted during the 16th to 19th centuries. The realm of Japanese armour is both intricate and multifaceted, often presenting a daunting challenge for newcomers to grasp. Our aim with this publication is to provide invaluable assistance to our members as they acquaint themselves with the various styles and types of Japanese samurai helmets.

Within this volume, we have meticulously curated a collection that includes complete helmets as well as unassembled helmet bowls, featuring works from esteemed schools such as Myochin, Saotome, Haruta, Saika, and others. Featuring over 50 examples.

This publication will be offered entirely free of charge and hosted on our website with full download permission for personal use. A limited edition of only 20 printed copies will be produced and available for purchase.

www.japanesearmoursociety.com

Please bookmark our page for further information. In the meantime, here is a preview.

08/12/2023

Certificate of Provenance - New Service

Our Certificate of Provence (CP) is an entry-level authentication service that professional dealers favour for independent documentation to bolster sales. Members can also leverage this certification to support items within their personal collections for insurance purposes. In the event of a sale, the new owner gains a valuable form of reassurance regarding the authenticity of the acquired item(s). This certificate serves as a trusted and independent paper trail, offering tangible support for ensuring confidence in the genuine nature of the possessions involved. Certificates of Provance are issued by an expert in Japanese Armour appointed by the KNKBSK executive committee.

The Certificate of Provance (CP) can also be used for reduced-duty entry at ports worldwide. If antiques are exported to certain countries, they may qualify for duty-free or reduced-duty-entry if accompanied by a specific pre-printed (CP), which also acts as a certificate of antiquity. Certificates can be issued by members with professional dealerships or through other authorized channels. Collectors can also directly request a certificate issued by the society.

Certificates of Provenance are issued via our offices in the United Kingdom and Japan.

Pricing excluding postage
£27.00 United Kingdom Pounds
¥6,800 Japanese Yen

Security
Our certification process is designed with three layers of security to ensure authenticity. Firstly, each Certificate of Provance (CP) is distinguished with a unique hole-punched number at the top right-hand corner, which is a commonly used security measure by banks and government organizations in Japan, such as The Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK). This hole punch is created using a specialized machine for precision. The second level of security involves the application of a hanko stamp, manually placed at the bottom right of the certificate, for an added layer of authentication. Finally, the third level features an embossed stamp that showcases our trademarked logo, providing a visually distinct and secure element to the certification process. The society retains a digital copy of every certificate issued should a member need to verify its legitimacy.

If you want to obtain a Certificate of Provance, please send us a DM, and we will happily talk you through the process.

06/12/2023

We were able to unlock our website today. We decided to change our domain and have been working on new content for the past few months. Over the next few months, we will begin opening sections of the site where you will find some excellent resources. The KNKBSK is all about learning as a community. Please bookmark the website; we'll post updates here as we've made progress.

Just so you know, this is the official homepage of the KNKBSK.

www.japanesearmoursociety.com/

30/11/2023

We have just published our first set of books for two of our clients. Each book contains valuable and detailed information about the suit of armour, the maker and the clan.

As these first books are private comissions we cannot offer them for sale. However the format is so nice we will publish the forthcoming volumes which will also be available in digital format for free download.