Description
About US:
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Thanks to a constant work directly with the best collectors, museums and galleries in Japan and friendship with them, along with a profit margin much lower than the European competition we can offer objects so that many people can choose to have authentic pieces with hundreds of years at more than competitive prices. After all, samurai art is our passion and we want to share it with the world.
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
Comes with certificate of supein Nihonto.
Late Edo period (1615-1868)
Description of the Kabuto
This exemplary suji bachi kabuto, dating from the Edo period, exemplifies the refined martial elegance of the samurai class during a time when armor had transitioned from practical warfare into expressions of identity, status, and personal taste.
Crafted from a series of riveted iron plates, the bowl displays the hallmark ridged construction (suji) with impeccable symmetry and balance. At its apex, the tehen no kanamono—a multi-tiered bronze fitting—crowns the helmet with a bold architectural flourish, surrounded by carefully arranged hoshi-byo rivets. These structural and decorative elements reflect the elevated craftsmanship typical of high-ranking armors from this period.
The kabuto’s most striking feature is its commanding maedate, formed of two stylized birds, possibly chidori or tobi, facing one another in perfect harmony. Rendered in lightly patinated gilt brass, the abstract yet harmonious forms rise skyward with graceful curves, evoking motion and alertness. In samurai culture, birds like the chidori often symbolized resilience and courage, soaring even against stormy winds—making such a crest both poetic and protective in meaning.
Framing the face are fukigaeshi—curved flaps richly adorned with fabric-covered surfaces and ornamental cords in earthen tones. Their texture and color echo the lavish details of the kabuto’s interior, whose padded blue textile lining and decorative brocade reflect both comfort and prestige.
Encircling the base of the helmet is the shikoro, a multi-tiered neck guard made of black lacquered iron plates, laced with black odoshi cords and rimmed in alternating threads of gold and orange. This meticulous kebiki odoshi work not only served a protective function but also contributed to the visual rhythm of the armor, harmonizing with the kabuto’s subdued yet regal color scheme.
Viewed from above, one can admire the decorated shiten-no-byo plates—each etched with floral and abstract motifs, gently aging to a copper-bronze hue. These details affirm the piece as the work of an experienced katchūshi (armor smith), capable of merging structural excellence with a restrained, poetic aesthetic.
This kabuto is more than a protective artifact—it is a sculptural representation of the samurai’s worldview: where form, symbolism, and strength unite in silent defiance of impermanence.
Type: Suji bachi kabuto (ridged helmet bowl)
Period: Edo period
Structure: This is a multi-plate helmet bowl made of several vertical iron plates (suji) riveted together, forming a ridged suji bachi shape. At the apex sits a prominent tehen no kanamono, a multi-tiered ornamental ring in aged bronze.
Maedate (crest): A striking frontal maedate in the form of two stylized birds facing each other, crafted in gilt brass. Their winged silhouette and beak profile evoke a sense of elegance and symbolism—possibly representing loyalty or a family crest motif.
Crest base & decoration: The maedate is anchored to an ornate metal base adorned with openwork motifs, including inverted heart-shaped cutouts and finely carved surface patterns, showcasing remarkable metal craftsmanship.
Tehen no kanamono: Decorative central ornamentation with a large central opening, encircled by sculpted metallic rings and a dense arrangement of dome-headed rivets.
Shiten-no-byo: Four decorative vertical bands extending from the tehen to the sides, richly adorned with intricate engraved floral motifs and layered decorative work, lending the kabuto a sense of dignity and artistry.
Shikoro (neck guard): Multi-plate neck protection constructed with black-lacquered ita-mono plates, laced with black silk cords in odoshi style. The edge is finished with golden and orange kebiki odoshi, enhancing the kabuto’s aesthetic impact.
Fukigaeshi (turnbacks): Prominent side flaps covered in textile and embroidery, featuring orange and tan cordwork, likely indicating high-rank usage. They are carefully aligned with the shikoro and the central design scheme.
Interior: Padded inner lining in deep navy with concentric stitched patterns, edged with decorative cloth band featuring gold-colored geometric motifs. Chin straps are crafted from orange-dyed silk.
