Original Japanese Edo Period 18th Century Lacquered Iron Samurai Jingasa Helmet with 1833 Dated Kanji Inscription on Underside - No Liner
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Original Item: Only One Available. A KASA (笠) is any one of several sorts of traditional Japanese hats. Some types are amigasa, jingasa, sandogasa, sugegasa, and takuhatsugasa. Note that rendaku ("sequential voicing") causes kasa to change to gasa when it is preceded by another word specifying the type of hat: thus, JINGASA ("camp hat"; helmet). These were issued to the lowliest soldiers of the Japanese War Lords (The Samurai). They were used by simple Infantry who acted as Musketeers using the then prevalent Matchlock ignition system.
Of cloth-covered iron construction worn over a fabric, perhaps wool cap, these were nothing more than a thin covering of iron to hopefully deflect arrows and sword cuts.
Our example, constructed of eight iron triangular plates riveted together and crudely lacquered, looks much like a Circus tent. The covering is slightly cracking revealing the oxidized iron underneath. The helmet does not retain a liner, but has one iron ring on the top side and four iron rings underneath for the liner. There is a long Kanji inscription on the underside of the helmet that will no doubt offer more information on its owner or user! The line furthest to the right looks to read (top to bottom) 天 保 四 年 五 月. This is a Japanese date indicating the 4th year of the Tenpō Era, 5th Month, or May 1833 in the western calendar. We do not know however if this is when the helmet was made, or just when it was marked. An exciting research project.
Comes ready for further research and display.
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