Kabuto: Reading a Samurai Helmet
Of all the parts of a samurai's armour, the helmet, kabuto, carried the most meaning. It protected the head, announced the wearer's identity on the battlefield and displayed his taste and courage. Many helmets survive on their own, separated from their armour, and they are among the most striking objects a collector of Japanese art can own.
Parts of a helmet
- Hachi. The bowl, built from curved iron plates riveted together. On a suji-bachi the plate edges stand up as ridges; on a hoshi-bachi the rivet heads project as rows of small points.
- Tehen. The opening at the crown, often framed by a decorative ring.
- Mabizashi. The peak over the brow.
- Shikoro. The neck guard of lacquered lames laced together with silk or leather.
- Fukigaeshi. The turn-backs on each side of the face, frequently decorated with a family crest.
- Maedate. The crest at the front, such as gilt horns, a sun disc or a dragon.
Makers and signatures
The Myōchin family of armourers is the most famous name in Japanese helmets, and Saotome, Haruta and other schools also made fine bowls. Signatures, when present, are usually chiselled inside the bowl at the back. As with sword fittings, many signatures were added later, so the quality of the plates and riveting matters more than the name.
Kawari-kabuto
In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, commanders wore extraordinary helmets designed to be recognised from afar. These kawari-kabuto, eccentric helmets, were built up over an iron bowl with lacquered paper, leather and wood into shapes such as conch shells, catfish tails, eboshi court caps and rabbits' ears. Surviving examples are rare and highly valued.
Period pieces or festival displays
In Japan, families celebrate Children's Day on 5 May by displaying a miniature or full-size helmet for their sons. These kabuto kazari are often finely made, but they are modern decorative pieces, not armour. They are a pleasure in their own right; just know which kind you are buying. Period helmets show real wear inside the bowl, aged lacquer and iron that has been worked by hand.
Condition
- Lacing is often replaced over the centuries. Original lacing in good condition adds considerably to value.
- Check for rust inside the bowl, cracks in lacquer and losses to the neck guard.
- Crests are frequently missing or replaced. A matching original crest is a bonus.
- Ask whether the helmet belongs with a particular armour or was assembled from several different armours.
Display and shipping
Display a helmet on a stand at a comfortable eye level, away from direct sun and humidity. Helmets are not weapons and can travel internationally, but they need generous, rigid packing, and larger pieces may travel as crated freight.