Kotetsu Kabuto

SCHOOL: Nagasone

REGION: Bushu, Edo (present day Tokyo)

SIGNATURE: O Bushu Edo Nagasone Okisato (Kotetsu)

STYLE: Suji Kabuto

ERA: Early Edo – Mid 1600s

One item that is often the target of armor and sword collectors alike is an authentic kabuto or dou made by the Nagasone Okisato, better known in the sword world as “Kotetsu” . It is still debatable if the smith signing Nagasone Okisato is one and the same with the ever famous sword smith Kotetsu, however, one thing is for certain that authentic pieces by Nagasone Okisato are of very high quality iron and they share the same jigane, signature, and often have kanamono of a kawari type genre. The iron of his kabutos is very high quality having been folded many times and shows a very grainy texture. Pieces with larger plates usually show fukure (air pockets), both broken and unbroken which reveals that the iron was folded many times. The iron tends to be thick, yet light weight. The surface has generally not been polished down and appears course. The surface of the iron is dark and shiny. This kabto is a very typical kabuto by Kotetsu with all of the above mentioned features. The front plate shows a very nice and characteristic broken fukure, with others present. The signature is a proper and match to the one in the Shin Katchu Shi Meikan page 46. The mei has a proper patina and some lacquer remains inside it. The koshimaki of the kabuto is original, however it was once out at a close to 90 degree angle to the hachi to support a flared shikoro (kasa jikoro), Sometime in the Edo period it was re-fixed with a hineno style shikoro. The kanamono are unusual being a very well executed gilt fukurin and a tehen kanamono with standing lotus leaves. Though Kotetsu was more famous for his swords, the desire to own original armor made by Kotetsu in the Edo period is obvious as there are many replicas and false signatures done from the Middle Edo period. This piece is a genuine original and we are proud to offer it.

 

Price on Request