16 Ken Suji Kabuto age

[shibeni]

Hello,

Is it any chance to get some more information about the age and style of my 16 Ken suji Kabuto. I already posted some pictures of Kabuto and armour in "Translation assistance": http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10219. All items are from my small armour collecton.

 

Thank you for your help.

Bojan S.

[Justin Grant]

Ian and Eric and others are much better than I am, but my guess is early/mid EDO.

 

Why I think this:

The Tokugawa Kamon and the Tehen strikes me as a later style. I forget the proper Japanese name of the style of the hachi, "Rear Mountain Victory" or something of that nature. It looks like it is Tetsu Sabiji with Kuro Urushi Nuri Shikoro in Kebiki style odoshi. These things I am sure you know. I am sure others with more experience will correct me, but regardless, I like it very much.

 

Edit: I think the style of the hachi is called Goshozan?

[IanB]

Bojan, That is a very fine helmet bowl. As Justin says it is a 16 plate goshozan suji bachi but with very unusual mabezashi or peak. It is shaped to look like an aoi leaf, is essentially of horse's hoof shape (convex) but also has the concave curvature where it meets the koshimaki. There is a helmet signed by Miochin Munehisa (Mid Edo) in red lacquer illustrated in John Anderson's book on Japanese Armour with a peak that curves up to the koshimaki like this. This is now in the Royal Armouries' collection and the lacquer signature has been written over a chiselled signature. However, there are many other differences so I'm sure it is not by him. I think you helmet is later. Is your helmet signed?

Ian Bottomley

[estcrh]

Nice okegawa dou also, its hard to see if any of the individual pieces match without more detailed pictures of each one.

[Bugyotsuji]

Nice armour! The width of the Shikoro plates suggests mid or later, but not early Edo.

 

(The Kabuto has slipped too far back!!! The line of sight of the Bushi wearing it should mean his mabisashi is almost on the horizon as he looks out.)

[shibeni]

Hello all,

thank you again for your time and useful comments on my Kabuto. I will also try to find Anderon's Jap. armour book. Sadly, only the middle back plate (where used to be a signature) of Kabuto is from inside so rusted, that is inpossible to see if there was a signature. What's left on other plates from inside, are signs of red laquer writting (arsenal numbers?).

I am happy that I can share with you my small armour collection.

 

Best tegards,

Bojan Sibenik