Maedate

[Steffieeee]

Hi looking to find a couple of old interesting maedate (think that's the correct term ) front crests for my helmets. Would be nice if one of them at least was muromachi. Condition really not that important, i prefer untouched things rather than heavily restored

[Bugyotsuji]

Unable to remember the exact details of your kabuto. Just went and had a look. Your zunari has a 'male' tsunomoto, so you should look for female maedate. (The O-yoroi style kabuto looks 'female' and will need a special three-piece flat kuwagata I think.)

[Steffieeee]

Oh ok yes good point. Both of the smooth headed Kabuto have a male peg, and the rivetted one a female socket. Thanks for mentioning! Decent or early ones of these seem to be hard to find

[Bugyotsuji]

There is of course a little adapter called a 'Tsurukubi' or crane's neck which can allow f-f or m-m. You can buy them (expensive) or make your own.

 

What is your budget for the maedate? A genuine old one can be surprisingly expensive, and they do not come up too often as people like to keep a hold on them. There are many out there purporting to be old, so be careful, it can be a minefield.

[Shogun8]

Further to Piers' comments, bonafide maedate from the Edo period are extremely difficult to find, much less one from the Momoyama or Muromachi jidai. Depending on the design you seek, an Edo period maedate will set you back several hundred dollars or even much more.