Helmet lacquer

[Steffieeee]

So decided to clean this helmet a little as all the lacing was black and turns out the whole thing has been painted black, which has also stained the lacing and the stenciled doeskin ear bits.. Very dusty and old so not obvious. Anyway it does comes off with acetone,and the lacing is pink and blue, the biggest surprise is that the whole of the helmet bowl isn't black it's a quite nice matt russet coloured lacquer which is unfortunately flaking quite a lot. Is this a recognised kind of lacquer?

[Geraint]

Dear Steffie.

 

Can I suggest that you might like to contact Dave Thatcher.  He is UK based and can advise you on the helmets and restoration.  You will find him here, https://yoroi.uk/  as well as some examples of his work.  He is a member here and well known.

 

All the best.

[Steffieeee]

I'm a metalwork conservator so am able to deal with cleaning and stabilising an old helmet, I know Dave is the best with lacing and relacquering, not what's required here though. Not sure I've seen this Matt reddish lacquer before ????

[uwe]

Could be “sabi-nuri”. Type of urushi, that resembles a russet iron effect....

[Steffieeee]

Thanks uwe. Isn't that unusual on helmet bowls? Will post pics once all cleaned

[Steffieeee]

Didn't take long. Looks way better in my opinion even though the flaking is more obvious, presumably why it was painted in the first place. Rather like it. Incredible how strong this lacquer is considering what this helmet had been through, and how thin the lacquer layer is

[uwe]

Looks much better as before...????

Sabi nuri is not unusual for helmet bows from this time! Now you have to decide what to do....

[Bugyotsuji]

Uwe, I think you mean, "Looks much better than before". 

[uwe]

 ...... the “eternal problem” in German language....”als” or “wie”?!

[Bugyotsuji]

I remember having similar problems with German at school! 

 

(My brother .lives in Germany and is fluent, but I have forgotten almost everything.)