A suji-bachi [helmet with raised ridges] and an en-suite mempo [face mask] with a spectacular maedate [ornamental crest], the helmet bowl signed Joshu ju Saotome Ienori (Saotome Ienori, a resident of Hitachi Province), Japan, 18th century

the sixty-two plate russet iron bowl slightly raised at the rear in koshozan form with raised ridges, surmounted with a four-stage tehen kanemono in gilt shakudo and copper, the turnbacks with gilt fukurin [ornamental border] and maru ni tachibana mon [encircled mandarin blossom crests] inset on Dutch leather with stencilled design, the peak with copper-gilt fukurin [ornamental border], four-tired red lacquer neck guard with spaced lacing in dark blue braid, the spectacular black and gold lacquered maedate [ornamental crest] in form of a horseshoe crab tail, the red lacquered ressei mempo [face mask with fierce expression], forged with deep wrinkles, flared nostrils, open mouth and pronounced chin, detachable nose-plate, black lacquered moustache and chin tuft, gold lacquer teeth, four-tiered red lacquer yodarekake [throat protector] laced in matching braid

(2)

74 cm, 29⅛ in. high (including the maedate)

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