Kabuto - Saiga

Oki tenugui Saiga kabuto, Edo period, 17th-18th century.

This original and very iconic kawari bachi kabuto (helmet of unusual shape) in sabiji design with beautiful patina is the work of the Saiga group of craftsmen, active since the 16th century in Kii province (today's Wakayama prefecture). This type is called oki tenugui nari, which means "helmet in the form of a folded tenugui towel", which evokes the horizontal top plate of the helmet.

The zaboshi rivets connecting the plates of the helmet have, with a few exceptions, round heads and are also used to attach the decorative mayoge eyebrows and the side and rear decoration kirigane, evoking the "flower diamonds" of hanabishi. Mebisashi is absent.

The four-piece itazane shikoro is laced in the sukage style with dark blue odoshi ito lace, the helmet has a two-piece maedate jewel holder in the front and top of the bowl.

For the reason of the immense variety of removable and interchangeable jewels, we can only guess how the decoration of the helmet was conceived.

It was always an extravagant and expensive type of helmet for samurai of higher rank, sought after by collectors and only very rarely appearing on the market.

Stand is not included.