Japanese Meiji Era, Army Enlisted Dress Shako
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $450.00

Original era manufacture. A French inspired, black lacquered leather shako with a large gilded brass sunburst emblem at front. Wide black leather sweatband with an adjustable coarse cloth liner with a paper property or  issue tag inside the crown. The two brass chinstrap bosses remain in place on each side of the shako, however only fragments of the black leather strap (plain with no brass covering) remain. I believe this pattern shako was introduced in the 1880's with the Imperial Guard wearing a similar example but in red. Normal age and wear, quite scarce.