The Charlier and C🎃ortina Collection of Exotic Samurai Helmets an🦄d Armour

Two mempo [face masks]

Edo period, 18^th - 19^th century 

the first, a black lacquered iron face mask with fierce expression (ressei mempo), formed in one piece with deeply wrinkled face and open mouth, yak hair moustache and beard, gold lacquer teeth, red lacquer interior, three-tiered throat protector with close-spaced lacing (kebiki odoshi) in dark blue braid; the second, a simulated russet iron (sabiji-nuri) lacquered face mask, detachable elongated nose plate, horse hair moustache and chin tuft, sabiji-nuri lacquer teeth, sabiji-nuri interior, two tiered throat protector with close-spaced lacing (kebiki odoshi) in dark blue braid, both accompanied with a black🌌 metal stand as illustrate🉐d

20.5 cm., 8⅛ in. wide (the first)

19 cm., 7½ in. wide (the second)