An Edo Period, 1603 to 1867, Maedate, A Samurai's Helmet Crest Mount, in The Simple and Sophisticated Style.

A gilt sinchu circlet on a wide flat male fitting, that would insert into a female receptacle on the brow of a kabuto helmet. Some kabuto had a female receptacle fitting mount, other helmets may have a male mount, and thus they would be adorned with a maedate that had a female receptacle mount. The Samurai Maedate is a crest that is attached to the front of the kabuto (samurai helmet) which could represent a specific clan, unit, rank, personality trait or to invoke a divine spirit's power to flow through the samurai. The samurai maedate were crafted from different materials (brass sinchu, iron tettsu wood and laminated paper were most common), in all manner of different shapes, sizes and designs. Some were small others could be simply huge, hence why those might be made from layered paper over lacquered, in order to save weight. It not unknown for some helmet adornments to be many feet high. For samurai that would be likely engaged in combat in full armour however might prefer the much simpler, neater and smaller maedate such as this one. The most notable designs where often of Deities and animals or dragons, or clan mon more like this maedate’s type. Some were extremely elaborate, others simple and what westerners would call more sophisticated as is this example. The maedate when not fitted to the kabuto, can also be hung on display on the wall of over entryways.
This fine example would be superb on a suitable kabuto with the correct style of mount, or it would look superb, aesthetically mounted within a glazed frame.

Code: 21813