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Our specialty is Japanese Samurai Kabuto. Our goal is to maintain one of the most extensive collections available to the public. Although most of our collection is not listed we have a wide variety of exceptional Kabuto to fit collectors or dealers needs.History of Japanese Samurai Kabuto
The natural progression of design from the eleventh century of the Japanese Samurai Helmet or Kabuto known as Hoshi Kabuto (helmets with large, high standing, rivet heads), to a steady reduction in size of the rivets, to kabuto with rivets filed flat in the fifteenth century.
Early sixteenth century saw the introduction of multi plate helmets frequently referred to as Suji Bachi (Multi-plate helmet of which the rivets are counter sunk, leaving the flanged edges of the plates prominent). Suji directly translates into English as rib or flange. These multi-plate helmets from the five plate head shaped Zunari to as many as two hundred plate helmets in the early seventeenth century that would have surely rocked the traditionalist’s boat, became in vogue. No sooner had they do so than Kabuto adornment and fancy crests known as Maedate and horns known as Kuwagata appeared that caused a major stir on the battle field, and the race was on to see who could produce the most outrageous Kabuto.
The seventeenth century was the golden era for the armorers that allowed free reign of design expression and every conceivable object, foreign influences Namban kabuto and the extraordinary Kawari Kabuto Particularly those auspicious from dragons to bats and conch shells attracted the eye of the armorer and our now ever receptive fashion conscious Samurai. There are certain theories regarding just how this fashion trend actually evolved none of which have actually been proven factual. Economics and the fact the Japanese Master craftsmen realized that their fine quality workmanship was walking advertising, soon listened to the undercurrent of chatter and with unquestionable certainty knew this market trend was going to become more in vogue The Kabuto is the crown upon the Samurai’s Armor. The pinnacle of technical and artistic skill and must be considered the central focus of the entire armor. Samurai Kabuto were considered of prime importance and thus the armorer lavished his greatest attentions upon it, much to the delight of today's discerning collectors.
| Catalogue: Archives: Regional Art (32) |
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