120 Plate Kabuto Signed Nobuie

ERA:  Edo Period  (1700s)

STYLE:  120 plate Kanto suji kabuto (kasa jikoro koshimaki)

SCHOOL:  Likely Myouchin from the Kanto area

SIGNATURE:  Myouchin Nobuie with Kao

You are looking at a very rare piece which is a pleasure to have on Yamabushi antiques.   Rare is the opportunity to own a 120 plate kabuto.  The more common form of 120 plate kabutos are of the Saotome School "bullet" shape which were easier to construct.  Myouchin school style 120 plate suji kabutos are exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain as there were not many of them produced. When they were produced, they could only be afforded by the wealthiest of Daimyos. There is not much that I can say for this piece that the pictures don't say for themselves. However, I will do my best to fill you in on the details. It is a 120 plate russet iron suji kabuto signed Myouchin Nobuie with Kao. The name 'Nobuie' is one of the most prolific armor smith names of all time. It is likely that there were several schools and generations of smiths that used the name Nobuie from the earliest in the early 1500s (of which you can view on this website in the gallery) through the late Edo period. This particular piece is a DAIMYO grade piece that has NOT been altered, or changed over the years. It appears as it did when it was constructed in the 1700s and is in MINT/ PERFECT condition. The hachi is composed of 120 russet iron plates riveted together with countersunk rivets. The tehen kanamono is an exquisite piece which is original to this kabuto, NOT a matched piece as is commonplace in many kabutos. It is composed of six soft metal sections which rest atop one another. The bottom kanamono is exquisitely detailed with extra fine nanako and vine ornamentation. This style of tehen kanamono would have been top quality for the period of its construction. Another important point on this kabuto is the koshimaki (iron ring which supports and joins all the plates together at the base). The Koshimaki is flared outward which is the style of koshimaki used most often in the early ages of suji kabuto design (early 1500s). This sort of koshimaki is designed to support a 'kasa jikoro' or shikoro that flared out like an umbrella to the sides. Though this type of shikoro faded out at the end of the Momoyama period, it was still employed in kabutos of high grade daimyos who wished to preserve family tradition by designing kabutos which bore homage to their ancestors. Thus, we often see pieces in the 1700s and 1800s which have 'revival' characteristics. It is possible that this kabuto was never fitted with a shikoro, though, I cannot say for certain. I see no reason why the shikoro would have been removed other than it may have been large and difficult to store. The inside of the hachi is in excellent condition and bears a nicely graduated russet patina; what would be expected from a kabuto of this age. The signature is located on the center back plate and is bold bearing the inscription Myouchin Nobuie Kao. This kabuto is a crisp PERFECT example of a 120 plate top quality DAIMYO kabuto that most collectors never get the chance to own.   It comes with the original hand made wooden box.