Kabuto - Horns / Antlers

[Lukas K]

Hi,

It might be a silly question but was wondering how actualy big horns were mounted on the kabuto? Does anyone know?

 

Thanks

[Geraint]

Lukas,

 

Do some searching around wakidate, or side mounts on kabuto.  While these do seem a little hit and miss for large horns they appear to serve the purpose and I suppose if struck or grabbed would not cause the wearer too much discomfort.

 

Not sure if these would serve for very large horns.

 

All the best.

[Shogun8]

Lukas,

 

These large horns were a form of wakidate or side crests, as Geraint has said. They were actually sculpted out of a relatively light material called harikake, such as hollowed out wood, leather or papier mache which were then lacquered. They were designed to break off under duress and this relative fragility resulted in true Edo or earlier examples being quite rare, with most examples of maedate (front crests); wakidate (side crests); ushirodate (rear crests) and zudate (top crests) that one sees outside of museums being modern reproductions.

 

John

[Lukas K]

thanks for your answers!