Helmet "kabuto" with rabbit ears

Description

iron calotte, provided with special surface structure and coated with dark brown lacquer, with forehead plate and four-parted neck guard “shikoro”, helmet crest “wakidate” in shape of rabbit ears from wood, lacquered in red and gold, “maedate” in shape of a knot, interior lined with cloth, plant fibre cord for attachment, missing parts at the neck guard, lacquer flaked off and laces torn at the same place, fine cracks at the base of the ears;
high-ranking Samurai laid a lot of value on their individual appearance. Above all the helmet should have a high recognition value, which was the reason for extremely imaginative helmet crests, ranging from antlers of different kind, horns, large ears to depictions of demons, animals and crescents. The choice of ornament always had a special meaning. The rabbit is associated with the moon and symbolizes high longevity.