Eboshi Kabuto Hachi

ERA: Momoyama Ca. 1580-1600

STYLE: Eboshi

REGION: Central to southern Honshu

SCHOOL: Haruta

SIGNATURE: “Saen Yoshimitsu”

This is a perfect example of an UBU (unaltered) full iron eboshi kabuto hachi. There are many examples of Eboshi kabuto in existence dating from the Early Edo period, however, it is once in a long while that you run across a full iron example dating to the Momoyama Era. In my studies, I have only seen two as old as this example on the open market and I bought both of them. Even at the 2007 Osaka NKBKHK sokai (which was dedicated to Kawari kabuto) there were no examples of eboshi dating to the sengoku period. There are just so few left in existence and of the handful that I have seen, most of them are locked up in museums and shrines. This piece has its original lacquer which is a dark brown color. It is thought that this beautiful dark brown color happened due to the lacquerer using rusted nails to stir the urushii, which after hundreds of years caused the black urushi to patinate dark brown. This color is used to estimate lacquer age of kabutos dating from the Late Muromachi –Momoyama periods. Some features which distinguish this kabuto as an early example are the koshimaki which is turned out at approximately a 45-60 degree angle, the two front plates being riveted across the two plates as opposed to through two overlapping plates, the double tsunamoto, lacquer patina, and the shape of the mabizashi. The construction of the kabuto is indicative of the Haruta group. For an eboshi kabuto this example is a bit heavier than average. The inside is signed with a period mei that I believe to be original. I believe that it reads “Saen Yoshimitsu”. This kabuto was produced somewhere in western Japan. There is some loss to the original lacquer, though remaining lacquer and iron patina are generally in excellent condition for the age. I will offer the optional service of making a hand made shikoro for this kabuto at an additional cost as I believe this kabuto is worthy of a proper shikoro, though it displays well on its own. This is a serious piece for a collector who wants something from the era of the fighting samurai.


 

HOLD