Armor with helmet decorated by a red demon

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Titolo dell'opera:

Armor with helmet decorated by a red demon

Epoca:

Japan, XVI – XIX century

Inventario:

AA2

Technique and Dimensions:

polymateric

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Descrizione:

Armor featuring a helmet of the kōseizan no kuji type (nine-plate helmet with a high apex) with a maedate (front decoration) depicting a red shikami (a traditional Japanese Nō theater mask representing a demon or a furious spirit). The side flaps of the helmet are decorated with flowers in the Chinese aesthetic of Period Tang (618–907 d.C.), featuring a three-petal stylistic variation.

A "half-mask" is present, covering the lower part of the face decorated on the chin.

The arm guards consist of a brown base fabric with a straw-yellow printed floral decoration, equipped with chainmail, a plate for elbow protection, and rigid protection for the back of the hand. The cuirass is of the yokohagidō type (horizontal plates armor) decorated with splashes of sahari, a metal alloy of tin and copper that provides a silvery luster.

The tassets of the skirt recall the decorative style of the shoulder guards. The greaves are composed by a section of black fabric with dark green dots within hexagonal cells of the same color, and an iron vertical hinged plates part.