Face mask "menpo" with neck protection "yodare kake"

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Description

half-mask made of leather with removeable nose, banded teeth of lacquered metal, real hair moustache, the neck protection consisting of iron lamellas, covered with dark brown varnish and fixed by bands of textile thread through the lamellas, fabric for ornament at the lower rim, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, bands of textile partly torn, metal socle;
very rare!
helmets with neck protection and the face masks, half- or full face masks, were made suitable to the correspondant suits of armour. The “menpo” masks had protective function, of course, but they should have a scaring effect on the superstitious predators as well.

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Comparing literature

Noever, P. (Hg.), Das alte Japan, München, New York 1997, p. 146 ff.

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