A13341/2

Japanese helmet faceguard (mempo) from a panoply of Samurai armour (see A13341); probably late Edo period; the metalwork has a coating of dark brown lacquer on the outside and orange on the inside to decorate and protect the steel from corrosion; the front of the neck is protected by 4 bands of lamellar armour (now detached); modelled in the shape of a snarling human face, covering chin, nose and cheeks; the nose section is separate, and also has protruding bristle moustache; the lacquer finish is generally fair, but chipped & damaged, particularly on the nose ridge; considerable conservation would be required to bring this up to display standard.

19th century

Japanese helmet faceguard, Japanese armour

metal, lacquer, bristle