Japanese Names For These kabuto Please

[hddennis]

Just bought 2 more kabuto's and would love to know what the Japanese name is for these odd styles. Thanks, Howard Dennis

[kaigunair]

Hmmm...my initial thoughts were fa-i-ku or re-pro-dakuzhun. My untrained eyes say these seem to be age modern repros. Just like with nihonto, pictures of the inside/underside are important.

 

The first looks like its trying to be a namban design (copy of something european). I believe the first 2nd is sort of a peach shape or "momo" kabuto.

[hddennis]

I posted the only other pictures I have as I'm awaiting delivery. I know they are not reproduction or modern as the inside shows. Sadly some fool thought he was a great restorer and slathered a new coat of lacquer on them.

Anyone know of any substance that will remove urushi other than chisels or sandblasting?

 

Howard Dennis

[IanB]

Howard, The helmet with the shikoro is not a momonari kabuto - they have a medial flange that is stepped at the apex, the front part being sometimes concave in profile. The helmet you show is a variant of a toppai kabuto ('pointed'), more properly a shiinari kabuto likened to an acorn. The other, with its flat peak is strange and not any of the classic form that I know of.

Ian Bottomley

[hddennis]

Thank you Ian, the fellow in Japan I bought these from said the odd helmet would have originally had chain mail. Perhaps it is patterned after some European helmet?

 

Howard Dennis

[hddennis]

Ian, I stumbled across this helmet listed as a 13th century Mongolian helmet. Think there could be any connection to my odd helmet? It sure looks similar.

 

Howard Dennis

[IanB]

Howard, I think you have nailed it. Not however Mongolian and certainly not 13th century but Korean and probably 16th century. There must have been a fair number of these helmets brought back after the Korean campaign as war-trophies. The Royal Armouries has one mounted with a Japanese shikoro that is much more Chinese in style, with a concave sided superstructure on top rather than the conical shape of the one you show. There is also a real Korean helmet consisting of an iron frame filled with black lacquered rawhide plates and fitted with fabric covered ear flaps and a neck guard. That winging its way to you has the conical structure in copper and has obviously lost its plume-tube. Not exactly items of great quality, but of great interest and rarity.

Ian Bottomley

[hddennis]

Thanks again Ian, I sure appreciate your help. My last 3 purchases have all suffered the indignity of an amateur restoration with a modern coat of urushi, and all this done in their mother country no less! Ian, would you know of any way to remove this and get back to what ever was their original finish.

 

Howard Dennis