Helmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a Wave

Helmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a Wave

Hiromichi Miura

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The kawari-kabuto ("exotic helmet") first gained popularity in the sixteenth century, during the late Muromachi period (1392–1573). Such grand, distinct helmets are thought to have functioned as personal identifiers for elite soldiers on chaotic battlefields thick with smoke and thousands of combatants, allowing commanders to tell friend from foe. They were also means to express one’s taste and stature, worn in the context of processions and state receptions. Samurai often favored powerful and symbolic designs inspired by the natural world. The bowl of this helmet is made of iron, and its dramatic peak, shaped as a cresting wave, is formed from leather.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Helmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a WaveHelmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a WaveHelmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a WaveHelmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a WaveHelmet (<i>Kawari-Kabuto</i>) in the Shape of a Wave

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.