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For #AppreciateADragonDay here are two neat Japanese kawari-kabuto helmets surmounted by giant #dragonflies ! Admired as agile and efficient hunters, dragonflies were dubbed "kachimushi" ("victory insect") and became a favorite samurai emblem.
[Japan was also known as Akitsushima, "Dragonfly Island(s)," named for the shape of the island chain]
1. 17th c., Minneapolis Institute of Art: https://collections.artsmia.org/art/114440/helmet-in-dragonfly-shape-unknown-japanese
2. 18th c., Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27591
![Helmet in dragonfly shape 17th century Japan Iron, lacquer, wood, leather, gilt, pigments, silk, papier-mâché 28 x 24 x 13 3/4 in. (71.12 x 60.96 x 34.93 cm) (approx.) Accession Number2012.31.1a-c Minneapolis Museum of Art https://collections.artsmia.org/art/114440/helmet-in-dragonfly-shape-unknown-japanese [digital color image of helmet in full front profile on stand in front of plain dark grey background]](https://media.historians.social/media_attachments/files/113/840/799/931/153/195/original/a3765fea6d7e3cec.png "Helmet in dragonfly shape 17th century Japan Iron, lacquer, wood, leather, gilt, pigments, silk, papier-mâché 28 x 24 x 13 3/4 in. (71.12 x 60.96 x 34.93 cm) (approx.) Accession Number2012.31.1a-c Minneapolis Museum of Art https://collections.artsmia.org/art/114440/helmet-in-dragonfly-shape-unknown-japanese [digital color image of helmet in full front profile on stand in front of plain dark grey background]")
![Helmet (Kawari-kabuto) Surmounted by a Dragonfly Restorer/Conservator: Restored by Hiromichi Miura (Japanese, b. 1938) Date: 18th century; restorations, 2015 Japan Medium: Iron, copper, gold, silver, wood, lacquer, silk, linen, hemp Dimensions: H. 13 in. (33 cm); W. 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm); D. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm); Wt. 5 lb. 6.8 oz. (2460.7 g) Accession Number: 2018.833.9a–d Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27591 [digital color image of helmet in 3/4 profile on stand in front of light grey background]](https://media.historians.social/media_attachments/files/113/840/800/061/964/765/original/f1731a3a568ab161.png "Helmet (Kawari-kabuto) Surmounted by a Dragonfly Restorer/Conservator: Restored by Hiromichi Miura (Japanese, b. 1938) Date: 18th century; restorations, 2015 Japan Medium: Iron, copper, gold, silver, wood, lacquer, silk, linen, hemp Dimensions: H. 13 in. (33 cm); W. 25 3/4 in. (65.4 cm); D. 15 1/2 in. (39.4 cm); Wt. 5 lb. 6.8 oz. (2460.7 g) Accession Number: 2018.833.9a–d Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27591 [digital color image of helmet in 3/4 profile on stand in front of light grey background]")