Kabuto opinions

[Alex A]

Hello,

 

Ive had permission to list this Kabuto in the Katchu section for discussion as i have been offered it as part payment on the sale of one of my swords.

 

To be honest, i dont know much about them. Its described as late Edo with more recent maedate and chord 

 

As pointed out, an unusual shape.

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

 

 

[uwe]

Hi Alex,

 

it is an “zunari no kabuto” (head shaped helmet) as you already might know. This type of helmet were made over an very long time frame in slightly different shapes and therefore usually hard to date. 
What exactly you want to know?

[YOJIMBO]

  On 9/29/2020 at 5:49 AM, uwe said:

 

What exactly you want to know?

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price 💰

[Alex A]

Hi Uwe, thanks for the reply.

 

Im just looking to verify that it is authentic and not a later copy.

 

Cheers

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Looks authentic to me. The lacquer missing from the Mabisashi is a small minus, but it confirms that it is made of iron. The unusual shape of this zunari, from those photos at least suggests a zeppeki, or rear cliff, the shape of some people's heads in Japan! The prow shinogi is unusual for a zunari, unless that is a trick of the light. You are lucky to have 1. a tsunomoto in front for the Maedate, 2. both fukikaeshi and 3. a complete shikoro,  plus 4. a Shinobi-no-o cord and 5. an ukebari (failry recent?) inside. Often one or more of these is missing and a job to replace.

Usually zunari were not signed, but if the ukebari is untorn it will be difficult to check.

[Alex A]

Thank you, appreciated

[uwe]

An image without the maedate and a view inside, without the liner (ukebari) would be helpful.

Apart from that, I tend to agree with Piers. Looks authentic, from the pics provided....

[Alex A]

Thanks Uwe, here is an image without the maedate, i dont yet have one without the liner.

[Luc T]

Strange shape.   Or is the picture taken from too close?  It looks like the lower mabezashi has been added later

[Iekatsu]

Luc,

 

What makes you think that the lower section of the Mabezashi was added later?

[Alex A]

Thanks all for the replies, but

 

Enough of my time and other folks time has been wasted over this helmet.🙄

 

Not heard from the guy so dont know WTH is going on, but can only guess.

 

Sure we have all got better things to do, i know i have.

[Luc T]

  On 9/30/2020 at 10:52 PM, Iekatsu said:

Luc,

 

What makes you think that the lower section of the Mabezashi was added later?

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The shape does me thinking on a kozunari, with an extra mabezashi added during the edo period.   This happened sometimes.