History terms the samurai so – “As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the mikado (emperor). They would dominate Japanese government and society until the Meiji Restoration of 1868 led to the abolition of the feudal system.” A recent Bonhams auction, named Arts of the Samurai, showed off cool period clothing and military gear, with some artifacts dating back to the 11th century. The Edo period helmet shown below, in the shape of a conch shell, sold for a whopping USD 377,000. They don’t come cheap, do they?