mabisashi 眉庇

A visor that projected from the front of a soidier's helmet *kabuto 冑. First found in the Kofun period and produced through the late Edo period. Helmets that have a visor are called mabisashitsuki kabuto 眉庇付冑. The visor served to protect the front of the helmet and to shield the eyes from direct sunlight. It was usually made of iron, or occasionally gilt-bronze. The visor shape and decoration varied according to the period. Openwork decoration *sukashibori 透彫 was sometimes used, or standing ornaments *maedate 前立 attached.