Age: Muromachi Period
Provenance: The Shogun Art Collection
"HOLD"
Remarks: A beautiful signed Saotome Iyechika Shiinomi style 32 plate Kabuto. This helmet is often confused with the Toppai style. The principle characteristic which differentiates between them is the higher pointed crown of the Shiinomi. In making this bowl Saotome Iyechika abandoned the use of the "s" shaped plate which characterizes much of the work of the Saotome in favor of a flatter plate. At the front of the bowl is a spring hook "tsunomoto" for the attachment of the fore crest "maedate". The visor "mabisashi" is secured by three large iron rivets "san ko no byo".
Saotome Iyechika is ranked as a Jo Jo I smith. Considered to be "Excellent". With only 10% of all armor smiths in the category. Only three other smiths were ever graded higher. Iyechika worked in Hitachi during the late Muromachi period (1500-1573).
Several examples of this type of Kabuto are exhibited in museums around the world including the Peabody Museum in Massachusetts.
More details and photos available upon request.
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