1898.50.1.2

Collection type

Object

Description

Metal mask and throat guard [mempo], part of a Samurai armour set. The features of the lower face are clearly defined, with a detachable nose hinged to the mask. It has a grey-haired moustache and goatee. The throat guard is made of four serrated semicircular bars attached to each other with a blue ?silk yarn. There are perforations at the ears and a single perforation underneath the chin. [PR [OPS move] 3/7/2017]

Long description

Please see for the helmet [.1], greave [.3], greave [.4],shoulder plate [.5], shoulder plate [.6], gauntlet [.7], gauntlet [.8], sleeve [.9], sleeve [.10], skirt [.11], pair of leggings (destroyed) [.12], neck padding [.13], pair of sandals [.14.1 & .14.2], sword [.15.1] & sheath [.15.2], ?sword (added)[.16] , cuirass [.17]. [PR [OPS move] 3/7/2017]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Cultural groups

Samurai

Person

Field collector Lucy Markby

PRM source Lucy Markby

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1873

Date collected

By 1873

Acquisition information

Donated: 1898

Materials and processes

Material Metal, Material Yarn, Material Animal Hair, Process Jointed, Process Tied, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Cast

Dimensions

Depth: max 110 mm, Width: max 170 mm, Height: max 205 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1898.50.1.2

Associated publications

Illustrated in colour on page 102 [top] of Battle: A Visual Journey Through 5000 Years of Combat by R. G. Grant (Dorling Kindersley 2005), with the caption 'FACE MASK / Samurai wore masks such as this both for protection and to make themselves look fierce. This type of half-mask with nose-piece was called a mempo'. [JMC 1/8/2019]

Search terms: Armour Weapon, Clothing Headgear, Mask, Gorget Armour