1884.31.32.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Model of Japanese helmet. Part of model suit of armour.

Long description

Model of Japanese helmet. Part of model suit of armour. The bowl is of iron and had a central ridge. It is lined with red textile with green stitching. The peak is decorated with stencilled leather on one side and lacquered red on the other. The neck guard hanging from the back edge is in three plates, laced with silk braid. It forms a turnback on each side of the helmet, the upper surface decorated with stencilled leather. The helmet cord is of red silk.

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Maker Unknown Maker

Field collector Unknown Collector

PRM source Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers founding collection

Date / Period

Date made: Possibly before 1874

Date collected

?By 1874

Acquisition information

Donated: 1884

Materials and processes

Material Iron Metal, Material Lacquer Varnish, Material Silk Yarn Animal, Material Animal Leather Skin, Process Braided, Process Tied, Process Stitched, Process Stencilled

Dimensions

Diameter: max 78 mm bowl

Object numbers

Accession number: 1884.31.32.1 PR Cat other PR nos: 106

Research and responses

The following notes are drawn from research compiled by Andy Mills as part of the DCF Cutting Edge project in 2006-2007. This suit of miniature armour (roughly 1:6 scale) is technically very accomplished, and closely parallels the structure, materials and finish of real yoroi. It is perhaps only in the application of genuine printed leather, and the density of the technically correct lacing, where the scaling is compromised to truth of materials. Due to the continuity of manufacturing gogatsu-ningyo right up to the present day, and the long-held practice of making replicas of ancient styles, it is almost impossible to put an age to this piece on stylistic grounds alone.

This suit has a mixture of ‘modern’ and archaic elements. Two points of interest: the gilded plates connecting the breastplate to the shoulder-straps are termed Hato-no-Ita (‘Pigeon Plates’), and represent the spread tailfeathers of the pigeon (hato); this is symbolic of the war-god Hachiman, as the hato is his companion and vehicle (see The Armour Book in Honcho-Gunkiko , by H. Arai, published 1964). The helmet of this example is also particularly interesting, being of the Momonari-kabuto (‘Peach-shaped Helmet’) type. This type was most popular during the late 16th century, and is modelled after the helmets of Portuguese explorers (Bryant, 2004: Ch.8). The helmet and suit were made separately, and combined together by one of the suit’s owners. [SM 09/05/2008]

Search terms: Armour Weapon, Model, Figure, Reproduction, Armour, Helmet