Tatemono are made from a variety of materials. They are used as helmet decorations (crests), similar to European helmet mantlings and heraldic figures. In Japan, figures of animals or mythical creatures are often used, whose characteristics the wearer wishes to mimic, but which do not visually represent or portray the wearer's characteristics.
There are countless versions made from metal, bronze, brass, copper, leather, wood, papier-mâché, or other materials. They are almost always artfully shaped and additionally gilded, silver-plated, or covered with colored lacquer or enamel work.
The decoration is mostly located at the front of the helmet and is then referred to as Maedatemono (前立物), or short Maedate (前立(て), historically as mayedate, lit. "standing in front"). However, they can also be attached to other parts of the helmet, and are then called:
- Ushirodate(mono) (後立(て)(物), "standing at the back"): Attached to the back of the helmet.
- Kashiradate(mono) (頭立(て)(物), "[over the] head standing"): Attachment on the top of the helmet.
- Wakidate(mono) (脇立(て)(物), "standing to the side"): Attachment on each side of the helmet (right and left).
Popular representations include dragons, wasps, dragonflies, fish, lions, tigers, crabs, and animal horns.