A rare toppai-nari kabuto [high-sided helmet] and mempo [face mask] | Edo period, 17th century

The Property of a European Collector

A rare toppai-nari kabuto [high-sided helmet] and mempo [face mask]

Edo period, 17th century 

the conical twelve-plate black lacquered iron bowl of toppai-nari [high-sided] form and raised ridges in European style, terminating in a four-stage copper and copper-gilt tehen kanamono of typical chrysanthemum form, black lacquer mabisashi [peak] with copper fukurin, the fukigaeshi [turnbacks], four-tiered black lacquer manju-jikoro [rounded neck guard] with sugake odoshi [space-lacing] in blue braid, gilt metal maedate [forecrest] in the form of a kiri mon [paulownia crest], the black lacquered iron ressei mempo [face mask with fierce expression] forged in one piece with deep wrinkles, flared nostrils and open mouth, horse bristle moustache and chin tuft in nanban style, red lacquer interior, five-tiered yodaregake [throat protector] in matching braid, this lot is sold with a wood helmet stand as illustrated

The bowl to peak: 28 cm., 11 in.

The shikoro to peak: 33 cm., 13 in. 

The mempo: 18 cm., 7⅛ in. wide