Soldier’s Hat with Nabeshima Family Crest
Original Language Title鍋島藩螺鈿陣笠
CultureJapanese
Date18th-19th century
MediumLacquered wood with mother-of-pearl inlay
DimensionsOverall: 16 5/8 inches (42.23 cm)
Credit LinePurchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust
Object number32-202/23
On View
Not on viewCollections
Gallery LabelWorn in ceremonies and processions rather than battles, this hat was meant to demonstrate the user’s identity and status. From 1467 to 1615, Japan was enmeshed in civil wars that ended with the establishment of a military government called bakufu in Edo (present-day Tokyo). In the Edo period (1615–1868), samurai rarely fought but were expected to travel to Edo to serve in the bakufu.
The inlaid five-petaled roundel adorning the hat is the crest of the Nabeshima clan, who oversaw the production of the porcelain dishes displayed nearby.
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Edo period (1615-1868)
32-202/22
