strange asian brass helmet what is it ?

[trenchwarfare]

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Well out of my field BUT......that "rosette" below the large badge on the front of the helmet looks distinctly Japanese or perhaps Chinese to me.
A nice attractive piece by the way.
Stu

The lower device on the front, does look to be a sixteen petal Chrysanthemum. The Imperial Japanese seal. If the other "Mums", all have sixteen petals. I would lean towards a Japanese connection. Possibly early 20th century ceremonial, from one of the Japanese Colonies? Manchukkuo (Manchuria) Formosa (Taiwan), or Chosen (Korea). It does have a Chinese, Tibetan look to it.