Samurai Face Guard

Black-lacquered rawhide samurai half-mask (nerigawa kuro urushi nuri menpo). Attaches to 19970E, a samurai face guard nose piece. Facial wrinkles (shiwa) are simulated in the rawhide to create a fierce and aggressive facial expression. The mouth is open bearing painted teeth. The nose piece (hana no ita) is detached from the mask but there are attachment points where the two connect. L-shaped hooks (ori kugi) protrude from each cheek to help fasten the helmet cord. Decorative plates are present where the ears would be, each with six holes. The interior of the mask is painted with red lacquer. A small paper is stuck to the inside of the left cheek with a Japanese character written. Remnants of a dark green silk cord (kake o) remain attached to the cheeks. Though this cord is mostly destroyed, it would have tied behind the head when the mask was worn.

A five lame throat guard (tare) is attached to the mask beneath the chin. Each rawhide lame is coated with black lacquer, though much of it has chipped off. The lames are connected to one another with dark green lacing in the sugake-odoshi style. The bottom lame showcases a row of dark green lacing above a bottom row of the same colored lacing in a cross knot pattern.