Kabuto

[kissakai]

Hi

I have two very recent acquisitions and 'd like a bit of education which are in two separate posts

Uwe has already given me some advice which I hope I've shown correctly

I have contacted David Thatcher but his workload is massive!

 

Kabuto

Early/mid Edo kabuto. The urushi appears a bit too shiny considering it´s age.

The base of the Eboshi, is an older six plate toppai-nari kabuto. Considering this, it is safe to assume, that superstructure is made of paper mâché (confirmed).

Not an unusual way to create an eboshi kabuto. This will also explain the cracks and dents in the lacquer.

I say lacquer instead of urushi, because I´m not sure if its urushi at all as the white edges on the cracks are making me suspicious.

To sum it up, I think the whole helmet seems completely restored. Neck guard (shikoro) is newly lacquered and amateurishly laced. Also, its attachment to the helmet is incomplete, done only with the split shank rivets (hachi tsuke no byo). These ‘rivets’ are ‘posh’ paperclips

 

My questions:

Should it have the minimum restoration or left alone

If restored what needs to be done

Any other information will be of great help to me