Exotic Helmet with Tengu Mask and Crows

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Beginning in the sixteenth century, armorers contrived eccentrically shaped helmets (kawari kabuto), sometimes fashioned of papier-mâché mixed with lacquer, or, as here, entirely of iron. Their shapes often were inspired by images from traditional Japanese culture and mythology. Here, the face is the mythical tengu (mischievous mountain spirit) with a beak-shaped mouth, flanked on each side by embossed crows.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.

Metropolitan Museum of Art