A Large and Impressive Eboshi nari kawari kabuto  With A Hon Kozane Shikoro, Edo Period 

A Large and Impressive Eboshi nari kawari kabuto  With A Hon Kozane Shikoro, Edo Period

The eboshi is a tall hat dating from the Heian period (794-1195) and was worn originally by high ranking courtiers, our helmet takes this shape. This type of helmet is also a kawari or exotic helmet. Kawari kabuto can take many forms but they are all large and designed to make the wearer stand out in a crowd, all the better to be noticed during a battle.

Our example is made from moulded rawhide lacquered in black.

Leather armour was very popular in the Edo Period as it was lightweight and almost as strong as iron armour. Rawhide helmets were often favoured by older Samurai who wanted a lighter helmet and were an expensive alternative to a more traditional iron type.

The iron mabizashi (peak) is typically lacquered red on the underside and covered with printed doeskin on the outside as are the large projecting fukigaeshi on the top lame of the neck guard. Fukigaeshi are designed to protect the wearers face from arrows or bladed weapons.

The five lame shikoro (neck guard) is very unusual and has been made from individual lacquered leather scales laced together with blue silk odoshi in a style known as Hon Ko Zane.

The helmet contains its original silk liner (ukebari) and is complete with its silk tying cords (shinobi-no-o).

The kabuto comes with a contemporary front crest (maedate) in the form of large horns, traditionally made and gilded.

Dimensions: H 63cm W 44cm D 39cm
Edo Period: 1603-1868, Circa 1800
Provenance: Sir Frank Bowden Bt collection
Thame Park.
Christie’s Fine Japanese Swords And Armour, Tuesday 26th April 198