This shield was found in Japan, the Japanese for the most part did not use shields and it was probably brought there from a surrounding country or from a trading partner, any ideas? [ Linked Image ]

Eric,

Can you supply a little more context, i.e., where did you get these photos?

See these two previous threads on Japanese shields.

FWIW—The design and materials certainly seem very un-Japanese, which meshes with your statement of having been imported. Outside of that I don't claim any recognition of its provenance.

Looks Indian to me, that isn't based on any sholoarship or familiarity, just something about the rim and rivets reminded me of Indian armours and some weapons.

What an unusual find! if only these things could talk.... When I first glanced at this thread, the first thing I thought was someone was looking at an iron jingasa.

Have a couple of lacquered jingasa hanging on a wall and invariably get the "Japanese shields" comment from visitors.

Cheers,
Dan

It occurred to me too, that this looks more like a jingasa than a shield. Even the "official" description notes the resemblance.

It isn't a Korean or Chinese shield. It doesn't look like any kind of battle shield to me. Looks to have attachment points for a strap (a chinstrap?) and no handle.

If it is a shield, and turned up in Japan, what could it be? I'd check the possibility of it being some kind of Taiwanese shield, but otherwise, if it's a shield, might it be a copy of a European buckler?

But it could be a helmet/jingasa or an ornament.