A helmet with raised rivets (hoshi-bachi) and a face mask (mempo), signed Myochin no ki Munetomo, Japan, Edo period, 18th century

the richly patinated twenty-eight plate russet iron bowl with raised ridges and rivets, terminating in a five-stage copper-gilt tehen kanemono with chrysanthemums and floral displays, the large frontal plate with russet iron shinodare [ornamental strip] and igaki [small ornamental plates at the base], the russet iron peak with copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border], red lacquer underside, the turnbacks applied in stencilled leather and shakudo nibuwa kamon [double ring crests], four-tiered black lacquer neck guard with spaced lacing in dark blue braid, the underside with leather lacquered in red and gilt, linen, cloth and leather lining, the red lacquer ressei mempo [face mask forged with fierce expression] boldly hammered with deep wrinkles, flared nostrils, open mouth and pronounced chin, detachable nose-plate, horse bristle moustache, four-tiered black lacquer yodarekake [throat protector] with close-spaced lacing in dark blue braid, leather underside

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The bowl to peak: 30 cm, 11¾ in.

The mempo: 13.5 cm., 5¼ in. high