Jingasa with threeleaf arrowhead mon

Amazing and rare jingasa 陣笠 (ancient soldier’s hat) of traditional shape decorated with gold lacquer maki-e (lacquer design) crest 紋 (mon) depicting a ‘threeleaf arrowhead’ in a circle 丸に陰立ち沢瀉 (maruni kagetachi omodaka) on a black lacquer ground 蝋色漆 (rôiro’urushi).

The hat is circular and flat of shape with a dome in the centre.
The reverse is evenly lacquered black as well, and signed with gilt kanji (Japanese characters): ‘Kuroda Shô’ 黒田性, which could have been the name of the former owner, or the lacquer maker. Also equipped with white silk cords to keep the helmet in place.

Remarkable is that the jingasa comes with its original tomobako 供箱 (storage box) bearing the same crest and signature.

Approx. size:
Height 6.0 cm, Diameter 44.1 cm.

Period: Japan – Late Edo period/Early Meiji period (19th century).

Considering its age the helmet is in a good original condition with traces of wear consistent with age, like some craquelé and rim chips. Please look at the photos for a condition reference.

Jingasa (“war hat”): a type of hat commonly worn by samurai and ashigaru (foot soldiers) (From Wikipedia).

Arrowhead is a plant that grows in rice paddies and reservoirs in the wild. It was a popular motif among warriors due to the shape of its leaves, which resembled arrowheads.
After war lord Môri Motonari 毛利元就 won a battle after seeing a dragonfly perched on this plant, it was adopted as the Môri family crest as a symbol of good fortune.

When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.