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Antique Japanese Samurai Kabuto Helmet

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:500.00 USD
Antique Japanese Samurai Kabuto Helmet
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Antique Japanese Samurai Kabuto Helmet and Mempo Face Guard, Edo Period, with dark blue silk lacing. Helmet was originally designed to collapse completely for storage when transporting, but the locks for the support bars have been converted a long time ago to remain in place. Body is covered with a rough textured black lacquer. There are four articulated neck guard plates that surround the back and sides, which are attached with silk cord, and there are two small side plates on either side of the main body. Top of helmet has a multi-layered decorative fitting which serves as a vent. Inside there are remnants of a buff leather sweat band with three cord loops for attaching a top liner and chinstrap(both not present). The maidate or helmet crest was probably made in the early 20th Century and is a typical motif of curved arms with boar's eye piercings and painted gold. The mempo, which in this case covers the chin, cheeks, and throat, is covered in a dark brown lacquer with red lacquer interior. Three throat guard plates are attached with dark blue/black silk cord. There are two small pins which serve to keep the helmet chinstrap in place. Condition is very good for its age, the helmet showing cracking to the heavy lacquer paint, with chips and losses in several places. The silk lacing on the helmet body and the neck plates is sound and intact. The paint on the helmet crest shows age and wear. The leather sweatband is missing a section near the front and shows a lot of age and wear. The mempo shows cracking to both the brown lacquer on the outside and the red lacquer on the inside. There are chips and losses to the lacquer on the front of the chinguard and throat plates, and the rear of the throat plates, with small losses to the red finish on the inside. This helmet dates from the mid 1700's to the early 1800's; the mempo dates from the mid- to late 1800's to possibly the early 20th Century. Est.: $1,000-$1,500.