Kawari Kabuto Gusoku

ERA: Late Momoyama Period 1590-1615

STYLE: Kawari Kabuto Gusoku

REGION: Central Japan; Setsu, Yamashiro, Mikawa, Owari etc.

SIGNATURE: None visible

SCHOOL: Likely Myouchin or Myouchin Influenced

OWNERSHIP: A samurai who was allowed to use the 5-3 “go san” Kirimon. Possibly a direct retainer of the Toyotomi clan.



This armor represents a good example of what many collectors, specilists, and museums with a focus on the Sengoku era wish to obtain for their collections. It is a Complete, untouched, original armor with kawari kabuto dating to the sengoku period. Unfortunately, most complete armors dating to the Sengoku period have undergone total restoration during the Edo period that often entailed changing shikoro, lace pattern, fabric, urushi color, maedate, kamon, and or a complete restructuring of the armor. Armors that survived the Edo period sometimes got an even worse restoration in the Modern Era. This armor completely dates to the Sengoku period and has just come out of storage of hundreds of years.

Chronologically, we believe that this armor was made sometime before Sekigahara- circa 1590s and retired just after the battle of Osaka circa 1615 for several reasons. The armor has seen service at least twice.

When the armor was made it originally had silk lacing. When an armor is used in battle, silk lacing does not last long at all. Wearing an armor on two week campaign will weaken sugake lacing so that when it is shelved it will require complete re-lacing when it is next taken out for use. We believe that this armor was made as a functional display armor during peace times – circa 1590s - then saw service at sekigahara. Following sekigahara, it was retired from use and then before the Osaka buildup, the lacing was replaced with stronger, more resilient leather lacing which was actually more common during armors manufactured (and used) during the sengoku period. The silk waist lacing that attaches the kusazuri to the dou were not replaced because there is less stress due to the more disbursed weight from the kebiki lacing. Leaving kusazuri kebiki lacing original is a common feature of armors restored from Muromachi through late Momoyama eras.

The style of the kabuto is very similar in form to earlier examples of “igaguri” or chestnut design hachi that we have sold in the past, though it also shares the mabizashi and haraidate of kanto kabuto from earlier eras. Therefore we believe it to be a late Momoyama – special order piece. The fukigaeshi each have a 5-3 (three pod on outside and five on the inside) kirimon crest on them which was generally only allowed to be used by retainers of the Toyotomi clan, relatives of the royal family or the shogun.

Some of the highlights of this armor which make it a superb piece are the original sangu (kote, suneate, haidate) which have their original fabric. Their fabric and materials are proper, matching and to the Momoyama period. Though the suneate show repair work, the fabric matches the repair work on the haidate which conserved as much of the original as possible when it was done. We expect this was done at the same time as the leather lacing – being before the battle of Osaka (circa 1615).

Next, the mempo has had a lead/tin nose made for it which we believe may have also been a replacement done before the battle of Osaka. It is likely that the original nose was damaged or misplaced sometime after shelving it following the battle of Sekigahara. The nostrils are very large and it shows the proper shape for a sengoku period rissei mempo nose. It is important to note that up until the 1570s, lead and tin were still considered precious metals why this nose was done in lead is left to speculation.

The original iga guri style kawari kabuto has an original iron sword-shaped maedate and a very rare deer antler kuwagata dai. The deer antler kuwagata dai is composed of wood and urushi. However, at first glance the work of the maker is so convincing that it surprises one to find out that the antlers are not actual deer antlers. The method of construction was done by covering carved wood segments with moriage shitaji urushi which was then carved to resemble the texture of deer antlers and finally given a special grey-white urushi making the antlers appear real. There is some lacquer loss in places, however, the superb craftsmanship is evident and they display very well, as is.

The dou is quite heavy and composed of thick iron plates that maintain their original urushi. Unlike most kiritsuke iyozane dou this dou has not had moriage urushi done to make it appear as if the iyozane are true small scales. This style would be considered unusual for this period and makes the whole armor that much more interesting.

The sode (shoulder guards) in their current state date to right before the Battle of Osaka, however close inspection of the back of the plates shows a patch on the rear of the third plate from the top. This patch likely covers up a hole that was often used for kogai kanamono used for connecting sode to the back with a cord which were more common up until the Early Momoyama period. This patch was likely added at the same time they were re-lacquered with Red urushi.

In all, this armor has so many good points about it that it is difficult to cover them all. Though it is in “out of storage” condition, it is a very rare and admirable piece as a whole. I believe that it would be worth the money to invest in a conservational restoration, but it is in good enough condition to display on its own as is. This armor would be a great addition to a collector of sengoku armor or sengoku period kawari kabuto. As this armor is very unique and unusual, it may be possible to trace ownership through historical pictorial documents.

SOLD