Samurai full-faced mask "taisho somen", Edo period (1603-1868) ·  Japan · ID: 3048790

Description

iron, base

This mask consists of two large plates. If the upper one was removed, the lower one could be worn as a half mask (“menpõ”). Nose guard and ear covers, as well as both rows of teeth are made of separate plates.

A hole under the chin (“asenagashi no ana”) served to allow sweat to drain off.

The object Samurai full-faced mask “taisho somen”, Edo period (1603-1868) with the object ID 3048790 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 15 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,200.

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Comparing literature

Barbier-Mueller, J. Gabriel & Roger Diederen (ed.), Samurai, Pracht des japanischen Rittertums, München 2019, p. 218, ill. 52