Shape And Age Of Kabuto

[Higo-san]

Dear all,

 

a friend of mine has seen an interesting looking kabuto at a local dealer and was interested in getting some preliminary information on the shape and age of the helmet (modern repro or at least late Edo).

 

He has asked for more pictures but unfortunately the business is on holiday this week.

 

Can someone nevertheless provide a first assessment?

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

[IanB]

Chris, Certainly not a modern reproduction and probably Edo period, but odd. The pronounced arching of the koshimaki (the plate that runs around the base of the bowl) over the peak is  far from common and might give a clue as it its maker. Get your friend to have a look inside and see if there is a signature on the inside of the back plate of the bowl.

Ian Bottomley

[Higo-san]

Ian,

 

thank you so much for your fast and very helpful reply. I will forward this information and keep the forum updated with any news concerning this item.

 

Best,

 

Chris

[uwe]

Ian,

can't remember to saw such a koshimaki on an suji bachi. The shikoro is damaged but real while I'm not sure about the helmet itself. Looks very odd to me.

[IanB]

Uwe,  I know exactly what you mean but as far as  I can see the bowl does look to have some age. If you look at the flange of the koshimaki  just above where the fukigayeshi should be, you can see the iron has the normal layers of kokuso and tonoko under the tetsu sabi nuri - I cannot see that a faker would bother to do that.  It is not the work of a professional armour for sure, the bowl is too deep and the arching koshimaki prevents both the top plate of the shikoro and the peak from fitting properly - in fact I would guess the shikoro is off another helmet. Amateur work or made by someone 'way out in the sticks'. I saw an armour in Matsue castle that was if anything even more ugly than this.

Ian Bottomley

[uwe]

I agree Ian. The bowl shows some age. Lets see, if we can get more pics...

[Higo-san]

Please find attached more pictures! Looks like this was a zunari kabuto which has been built up with lacquer in order to look like a suji bako....

[Higo-san]

This may also explain the odd shape of the koshimaki!

[IanB]

Chris, Yes that explains it. The lower part of the zunari peak has been cut away and the remainder hammered outwards to attach the new peak to. The fact that it was a zunari explains why it looks too deep. You often see this trick done with 6 or 8 plate helmets, and surprisingly with a lot of Muromachi akoda nari kabuto, but I don't remember seeing a zunari that has been given the treatment before. A very interesting helmet - but still ugly.   

Ian Bottomley

[uwe]

First time for me also! But it wasn't done yesterday. Those old cheaters.....

[Higo-san]

Thank you both Ian and Uwe for your time and careful assessment!

[Shogun8]

Very interesting - and makes total sense once one knows the answer!

 

Could not for the life of me think of why the koshimaki was shaped that way...