Mask (Menpō)

17th century

Not on view

Masks have long played an important role in Japanese culture: in religious ceremonies, dance, Noh theater, and military costume. For samurai, masks served as a principal face defense and helped secure the helmet to the head more firmly.

The majority of masks were half-length (mempō), covering the nose and the face below the eyes. Their iron surfaces are either lacquered or a dark russet finish; the interiors are usually lacquered red. In addition to half masks, the Metropolitan Museum's collection is unusual in possessing numerous full masks (somen). The majority date from the peaceful Edo period. During that time, armorers like the Myōchin clan took pride in making ever more varied masks as a demonstration of their creativity and their famous metalworking skills.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Mask (Menpō)
Date: 17th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron
Dimensions: H. 7 in. (17.8 cm); W. 6 1/4 in. (15.8 cm)
Classification: Armor Parts-Masks
Credit Line: Gift of Bashford Dean, 1914
Object Number: 14.100.168
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese — Armor (*Gusoku*)
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Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
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Mask, Myōchin Muneakira Japanese, Iron, lacquer, textile (silk), Japanese — Mask
Inscribed by Myōchin Muneakira
dated 1745

Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese — Helmet (*Zukinnari Kabuto*)
Japanese
16th century

War Mask, Iron, gold, copper alloy, Tibetan — War Mask
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Koto (箏), Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan Japanese, Various woods, ivory and tortoiseshell inlays, gold and silver inlays, metalwork, cloth, laquer, paper,, Japanese — Koto (箏)
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Workshop of Gotō Yūjō
early 17th century

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