A kawari kabuto (helmet)


Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th centuryThe iron helmet bowl built up with harikaki, black lacquered to represent a shachihoko, the mythical dragon fish seen as roof end tiles on castles and temples as protection against fire, boldly modelled with scales and an extremely curled tail, on either side of the head curled fins, the lips on the wide mouth red lacquered, a red-lacquered tongue curling up under the nose, the gilt metal eyes, to the rear an iron itamono Hineno jikoro, black-lacquered and laced in blue kebiki odoshi; unsigned.