A light helmet worn by samurai and ashigaru (foot soldiers), the jingasa served both as protection and as a distinctive mark. This example, crafted in lacquered wood, bears a mon (clan emblem) indicating its owner's affiliation. The jingasa thus embodies the alliance between military utility and aesthetic refinement characteristic of Japan during the Edo period.

JINGASA helmet
carved lacquered wood, cloth straps
Edo period, 19th century
Japan

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