Helmet

[Type99]

Any information on this helmet is appreciated. Their is a head liner inside.

[Baka Gaijin]

Good morning Dow

 

More pics please of the inside of the Hachi (Helmet Bowl) if possible, or the liner area.

 

Cheers

[IanB]

Dow, This helmet looks to be post Edo. Shots of the interior of the shikoro will confirm it.

Ian Bottomley

[Dr Fox]

Hi Dow

 

If you scroll down to my post "Kabuto photos" you will see your enquiry is similar to mine. There you will also see the photos I was asked for, and the advice given. Hope it helps. Cheers.

[kusunokimasahige]

This looks like a modern day post Meiji helmet, probably made in the 70's or 80's.

 

Still quite nice since it is of a model used by the early samurai of the Kamakura period.

 

KM

[Type99]

Enclosed is a picture of inside the helmet.

[Type99]

I'm assuming no news is good news regarding the headliner picture. I think it appears to new.

[kusunokimasahige]

Never assume anything on this board. No news could as well mean bad news.

 

KM

[IanB]

Dow, Please accept my apologies for not replying sooner, I had put your query on the back-burner and was subsequently distracted by decorating.

I'm afraid to say I think your helmet is not all that old, although it is in an old style. A considerable number of these helmets, as well as complete armours, were made for the tourist trade in the Meiji period by redundant armourers who were desperate to make an income. The best can be very, very deceptive since they often incorporate genuine old elements. There is one in a large collection here in the UK that only really gives itself away because the sleeves, shinguards and haidate are all different despite being sewn onto the same sumptuous brocade. Invariably they took a few liberties, Westerners being far less knowledgeable than the samurai. Most obvious on most of these armours is the size and flatness of the lacquer on the scales - especially on the underside that often seems to have been given the minimum of attention. They also tended to use cast kanamono (ornaments) that often show a missed piece of flashing or repeat too often on the armour. Note the three triangular ones on your helmet. This trade in spurious armours and helmets continued into the Taisho period and quite a few seem to have been made for the coronation of Emperor Showa.

Don't be down-hearted. I have a Meiji helmet I have associated with a real Muromachi do-maru. It is in the right style and quite a good copy and I ain't going to get a real one.

Ian Bottomley

[Type99]

Ian,

Many thanks for your reply I suspected it was a copy.