I am pleased to present this very fine Katajiro Fukurin Suji Kabuto from the middle of the Edo era (ca 1700). It comes with papers from the Japanese Armor Society attesting that it is “especially precious and rare”. The following is a translation of the papers that describe the helmet better than I can:
Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozonkai Kaicho Fujimoto
Ninteisho bango 1491 Tokubetsu Kicho
Kuro urushi nuri 24 mai bari 16 ken Katajiro Fukurin Suji Kabuto Edo Jidai Chuki
Dated: November 18, 2007
Japan Armor Research Society (under Director Fujimoto)
Recognizes this kabuto as “especially precious or rare.”
Certificate number 1491
Item description: Black lacquered made of 24 separate pieces with 16 bowl plates, a decorative strip (katajiro/shinodarei) on the front between the suji of the helmet bowl. The overlapping bowl plates are edged with decorative brass (fukurin). It is from the middle Edo era.
Shinodarei: A long, ornamental strip that emerges from under the tehen no kanamono and extends down
the front, sides or back of a hachi.
PRICE: $9,500.00
