Nerikawa Kabuto

ERA: Momoyama Period

STYLE: Ichimai Nerikawa kabuto

SCHOOL: Possibly Haruta

REGION: Central Japan

SIGNATURE: None visible

Here is a very early and very unusual single piece leather kabuto with heavy iron band reinforcements and iron shikoro. When we think of leather kabuto, we generally think of something belonging to a lower ranking samurai or foot soldier. This example, however, is obviously that of an upper ranking samurai as it has a very well executed tehen kanamono that has been gilt using silver or tin and uses a great deal of iron in its construction. It is likely that this was a special order item. This style of kabuto is exceedingly rare because leather does not usually last 400 years, but for some reason this piece survived the ages, but at a cost. During its life the leather has warped- likely due to the repeated changing seasonally humidity causing the shape to change and pull itself away from the supporting koshimaki (band at the base of the bowl). Most of the lacing is also undergoing deterioration (but may be easily replaced) Restoration services to the lacing will be provided at additional charge on request. Though this kabuto is not in a perfect state of preserve, it displays well and it is still a great piece because there are few, if none like it from this period that still survive to give us a visual record of their existence, though we know that they existed. It would make a very nice piece for a collector of sengoku period items and is completely ubu – unchanged.
 

HOLD