Page 182 - Bonhams Japanese Works of Art September 2015 New York

3359 3359

3359
A SHELL-SHAPED KAWARI KABUTO (ECCENTRICALLY SHAPED HELMET)
By Mitsuhisa, Edo period (18th century)
The spectacular helmet hammered up from several sheets of iron and assembled into the shape
of a large conch shell and finished to a rich purplish brown patina, the underside of the mabizashi
lacquered red, signed on the interior Kashu no ju Mitsuhisa; fitted with a six-lame Hineno jikoro
lacquered gold and laced in pale green, the top lame ending in gold-nashiji fukigaeshi trimmed in
gilt-copper fukurin and decorated with the heraldic crest of the Kikkawa family in gold hiramaki-e
With a lacquered wood storage box decorated in gold lacquer with the Kikkawa family crest
$20,000 - 30,000

For other russet iron shell-shaped helmets, see Sasama Yoshihiko, Nihon no meito, Tokyo,
1972, pgs. 172-175.

The Kikkawa family ruled over a domain in Aki Province in present-day Shikoku. They came to
prominence during the late 15th and 16th centuries alongside the Mori family and they played
a pivotal role during the Battle of Sekigahara (1600).

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