Jingasa (war hat) with Dragon Motif
Artist
Myōchin Ki (no) Munehisa 明珍紀宗久
(Japan)
Dateabout 1780
Mediumiron with lacquer and gold leaf
Dimensions10.2 × 33.7 × 35.6 cm (4 × 13 1/4 × 14 in.), 2 lb 10 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.717
Description1 piece iron. General shape of turtle shell. Repousse dragon and clouds cover entire bowl. Red laquer inside. 4 iron loops inside to secure headband.Label TextBy the 1500s, Japanese warfare was dominated by footsoldiers, parallelling similar developments in Europe. These troops wore plainer armor than the aristocratic samurai: instead of complex samurai-style helmets, they wore a simple "war-hat" of iron, leather, or even laquered paper. This fine example, from the peaceful Edo period, is an upscale equivalent made for a high-ranking samurai, possibly for use as a travel hat.ProvenancePurchased by John W. Higgins on January 24, 1930 from Mortimer J. Downing (Upper Stepney, CN). Given to the Museum on July 1, 1954. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
On View
Not on view
Myōchin Yoshimichi
1600s–1700s
