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Help and advice on Eboshi kabuto


Matsunoki

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Hello from the UK, hope you are all well all around the planet.

The help and advice that you kindly gave Howard has prompted me to get the camera out and likewise seek your assistance.

I know virtually nothing about Kabuto so please excuse my use of incorrect terminology.  I bought this a while ago (together with a menpo) mostly for display because I liked its visual impact.

The bowl is iron and it is in fairly rough shape. I have gently wiped and waxed it - hoping I’ve not committed any serious sin!

I’d love to get your opinions on age…..and anything else you can tell me. Is the neck guard original to it? I assume it is nothing special as it was relatively inexpensive. 

Grateful thanks in advance. 
Best. Colin

 

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Hi Colin,

 

before you give it into Piers care let me say it’s a rather nice “烏帽子形兜” (Eboshi nari kabuto, helmet in shape of a cap, worn by cord nobels). The flaring out hineno shikoro seems original (made for this helmet) to the helmet and is nicely attached with this cool knots. When it comes to the age I still have to made up my mind and will come back later…

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26 minutes ago, uwe said:

will come back later…

Thanks for your time Uwe,

 couple of extra questions ….

 

Was this style of Kabuto mostly worn to look good “walking  around town”  or were they suitable for battle?(I guess it might depend on how old it is??)

 

Also that long red silk(?) cord was on it when I bought it. Is that likely to be a genuine Kabuto cord? I haven’t unrolled it but it looks  awfully long to be tied around a mask. 

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Eboshi nari kabuto were made over a long timespan. They came in fashion (approximately) from late Sengoku/Momoyama period onwards and can be seen in different forms during the whole Edo period. 
 

Usable for show off? Yes of course, but also battle ready! I own two armors from around 1600. Both are equipped with an Eboshi-kabuto.

A rather exaggerated shape was worn by the famous Katō Kiyomasa (1562-1611).
 

In terms of the cord you mentioned. These are called kabuto no o or shinobi no o and are indeed rather long…

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As Uwe says above, the cords need to be long for actual wear. They cross over under the jaw, hook through the opposite ear loops, tie in a reef knot on your chin, then ‘work their way’ back through the strings (shinobi-no-o from the verb Shinobu to creep like a ninja) and are tied off in a large knot behind your neck.

 

Nice fukurin edging around the fukikaeshi and mabisashi.

 

There is a famous gold eboshi kabuto worn I think at the battle of Kawanakajima (might be wrong on that) with a musket ball hole right through the top flat fin section.

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@uwe  @Bugyotsuji

Appreciate your time and help. Many thanks. I guess “Edo” is as close as we get and that’s fine.


Especially grateful to you Piers for the kind offer to relieve me of it but my wife so enjoys dusting it that I think I’d better hang on to it.🙂

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May I quote you on the dusting comment when I meet your wife, Colin?

If not, then I think you owe me something to keep my mouth shut. (A kabuto might serve, perhaps?)🤔 

 

Actually I like the whole piece as is. Always safer to say ‘Edo’, and then no one can argue.

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41 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

May I quote you on the dusting comment when I meet your wife, Colin?

That might be injurious to both our healths Piers, she holds a black belt 3rd dan  in dusting you know……best keep quiet. I won’t mention it if you don’t. 
 

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1 hour ago, Bugyotsuji said:

May I quote you on the dusting comment when I meet your wife, Colin?

If not, then I think you owe me something to keep my mouth shut. (A kabuto might serve, perhaps?)🤔 

 

Actually I like the whole piece as is. Always safer to say ‘Edo’, and then no one can argue.

 

 

I have to agree with Piers as well as I too like the kabuto as is. What a great find. Thanks for sharing with us "scrap" collectors.

 

Howard Dennis

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Another nice and proper kabuto, Colin - one doesn't usually see fukurin and the fancy knots on this type of kabuto as Piers and Uwe have mentioned. I think eboshi are very under-appreciated (and thus undervalued). My only criticism would be the polishing and waxing...only because I like things as ubu as possible.

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7 minutes ago, Shogun8 said:

My only criticism would be the polishing and waxing...only because I like things as ubu as possible.

Thanks John. Usually I would totally agree…..leave it alone…..but the bowl was very dirty with a slight bloom (almost a surface mould) in places so it just had a wipe with a slightly damp soapy piece of soft paper towel, dried and then a light coat of of Antiquax. Didn’t touch the neck guard. The shine will die down! 
Appreciate your comments. 
All the best. Colin

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Understood, Colin - it was only a mild, off-handed criticism. After all, I didn't see the kabuto in the state you started with - and you're correct, the shine will fade!

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/11/2024 at 9:01 AM, Matsunoki said:

Hello from the UK, hope you are all well all around the planet.

The help and advice that you kindly gave Howard has prompted me to get the camera out and likewise seek your assistance.

I know virtually nothing about Kabuto so please excuse my use of incorrect terminology.  I bought this a while ago (together with a menpo) mostly for display because I liked its visual impact.

The bowl is iron and it is in fairly rough shape. I have gently wiped and waxed it - hoping I’ve not committed any serious sin!

I’d love to get your opinions on age…..and anything else you can tell me. Is the neck guard original to it? I assume it is nothing special as it was relatively inexpensive. 

Grateful thanks in advance. 
Best. Colin

 

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Hi Colin, 

Just out of interest, did you find that set for sale on my facebook group?  It was for sale there until it was sold I believe. Id just like to know if people are finding the page ok. Thanks.

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55 minutes ago, Miura said:

Hi Colin, 

Just out of interest, did you find that set for sale on my facebook group?  It was for sale there until it was sold I believe. Id just like to know if people are finding the page ok. Thanks.

 Hi, no I didn’t. I’m not on Facebook. 

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On 7/23/2024 at 12:51 AM, Matsunoki said:

 Hi, no I didn’t. I’m not on Facebook. 

Hi Colin, 

Thanks for letting me know. We have a rule on there about listing elsewhere, but sometimes sellers offer individually or take it down to list elsewhere which is fine.  I also like to see how wide the client base is reaching. I believe that you don’t have to be on facebook to see some of the posts as its not a private group.  Not sure if you can participate/interact, but you can carouse the page if you have an internet connection.  Authentic Samurai Arms and Armor Sales Page

 

https://www.facebook...ups/208940831882776/

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3 hours ago, Miura said:

Not sure if you can participate/interact, but you can carouse the page if you have an internet connection.  Authentic Samurai Arms and Armor Sales Page


 

 

Just for info, the link to Facebook that you have provided does not work on my iPhone. I get a message saying it doesn’t exist. 

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