^Lot 837 Japanese Samurai Menpo

Menpo, short for “men no shita men” is an armored face mask used by samurai warriors to cover their face and nose, below their eyes. late Edo period brown lacquered exterior and red lacquered interior, detachable nose piece with white horse hair mustache, features a fierce expression with a prominent jaw and cheekbones wrinkles, no teeth. 4 lame plate throat guard (Yodare-Gake). spaced lacing in indigo blue braid. Overall very good condition, intact with some scuffs, chips to the edges of the lacquer finish. The mustache appears to be a newer replacement.