Live Auction 12020Aesthetic Intuition: Collecting Japanese Art in Post-War London
A Sixteen-Plate Suji Kabuto [Helmet]
Lot 121 A Private Collection of Armour from a Japanese Museum

A Sixteen-Plate Suji Kabuto [Helmet]

Signed Bamen Hogen, Edo period (17th century)

Closed11 November 2015

Price Realised

GBP 10,000

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A Sixteen-Plate Suji Kabuto [Helmet]
Signed Bamen Hogen, Edo period (17th century)
The russet iron sixteen plate russet iron suji-kabuto [ridged helmet] signed on the inside on a gilt cartouche Bamen Hogen, with five tier iron and gilt hachimanza (decorative surround to central aperture), three silver inlaid invocations to Shinto shrine deities, iron shinodare on alternate plates with inlaid silver scrolling, four hibiki no ana (holes with vestiges of decorative braid), rounded iron riveted mabisashi [peak] with rope edging and inlaid silver star constellation, four-tier black lacquered shittsukezane [plate simulated individual laced scales] shikoro [neck guard] with blue kebiki-odoshi [close lacing], the fukigaeshi [turned back extremities of the shikoro] clad with shishimo [lion and water weed] design in stencilled brown and white leather with inscription Shohei rokunen rokugatsu Ichinichi [an auspicious day in the sixth month 1351], on the back a blue silk lining with gold brocade scrolling cherry blossoms and with gilt fukurin [edging] on which applied silvered metal katabami [wood sorrel] mon [family badges]

Specialist note

The silver inscriptions are Kasuga Myojin, Dai Jingu [Ise Grand Shrine], and Hachimangu. The dyed characters on the leather cladding of the fukigaeshi relate to the date 1351 since when they have been a standard part of armour leather design.

The Bamen group are believed to have originated in Echizen province during the Muromachi period, and to have received the name Bamen from the ruling Honda daimyo. They made armour, guns, and agricultural equipment throughout the Edo period, although inscribed pieces of armour are rare.