Go Sho Zan Kabuto with Ushirodate

Era: Latest Momoyama / Earliest Edo Circa 1600-1615

Style: 32 Plate Go Sho Zan kabuto with sun maedate and sunburst ushirodate.

Region: Central Japan – Likely Nara

Signarute: None Visible

School: Haruta

Ownership: Momoyama Era Important Daimyo

This is one of the best, complete, late Momoyama “Go Sho Zan” kabuto that we have had the pleasure of selling. The hachi is a 32 plate bowl that is similar to an akoda nari kabuto, but rather than seeming pinched in the middle the plates rise in the rear. It is generally thought that this shape of kabuto was done by Haruta smiths in the late Momoyama period. A unique feature of this hachi is the moon shaped “kin kara kawa” (gold imprinted leather of European origin) which has been inlaid into the lacquer on the mabizashi. This type of leather appears in katchu (armor) and Tosogu (sword fittings) primarily during the Momoyama period - as it came to Japan through European trade. This kabuto comes with an extremely high quality maedate and ushiro date that are proper in style for the late Momoyama period. They are gold plated copper with a nice dark brown-black patina in the laces where the gold rubbed away. We can see examples of this type of ushiro date and kabuto in use by major daimyo in the screen paintings of the Battle and seige of Osaka (C. 1614-1615).

Please have a look for yourself:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/The_Siege_of_Osaka_Castle.jpg

One thing that this ushirodate has that is unusual is the original key that locks it in place to the tsunamoto of the kabuto. It is known that these “keys” were used, however, it is uncommon to actually see how one works.

The kabuto still has its original liner in place though a couple cords have come detached from the bowl – still there is not enough space to view whether or not the kabuto is signed so it is unknown. The loops which hold the chin cord are very finely done with an unusual and painstakingly sewn leather over silk cord. The silk braided chin cord is also of unusual quality being interwoven with a thin high quality silk thread in addition to the regular silk braid.

In all the condition of this kabuto is excellent, original condition. Some of the lacing on the top lame of the shikoro has been broken, though it is original.  It was left to preserve authenticity, however, we will offer a service to replace broken cords at an additional charge.

This piece has recently undergone a thorough and proper conservational restoration by a professional armor smith using proper, true, urushi and restoration techniques. Therefore the urushi may not appear perfect, though, the original 400 year old urushi has been preserved and protected so that it may last in its original splendor for generations to come. Many times original armor is completely restored by stripping down the original urushi completely and re-lacquering with non-urushi lacquer – in effect destroying the authenticity and value of the piece. This is why the items on our site are only restored properly by one of 2 or 3 qualified specialists in Japan.
 

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