Page 142 - 2019 September 11th Bonhams Japanese and Korean Art NYC

985
No Lot

986
MIURA HIROMICHI (BORN 1938)
A restored kawari kabuto (eccentrically-
shaped helmet) with an impressive
forecrest
Edo period (1615-1868), 17th century and
Heisei era (1989-2019), 2008
The original eboshi kabuto constructed of
iron with a period shikoro of solid plates, and
fitted with a large hand-made maedate in the
form of a praying mantis of wood, fabric, and
paper, covered in clear lacquer and gold leaf,
the complete restoration of the helmet and
the maedate by Miura Hiromichi
With a lacquered wood tomobako storage
box
10in (25.4cm) high (helmet bowl)

$20,000 - 30,000

For the maedate upon which the present lot
is based, see Morihiro Ogawa, ed., Art of the
Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-
1868, New York: The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, 2009, no. 39

Miura Hiromichi, among Japan’s last and
most active traditional armorers, has restored
some of the most important Japanese
armors in the world, including masterpieces
in the collections of the Tower of London, the
Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo, and the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, New York. He is currently
the only armorer to have been designated by
the Government of Japan as a Juyo Mukei
Bunkazai Hojisha (Preserver of an Important
Intangible Cultural Property; commonly
known as Ningen Kokuho or Living National
Treasure). Recently, one of his original
armors was enshrined in the Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu Shrine in Kamakura. The
present eboshi kabuto has been featured
in numerous Japanese television programs,
and was exhibited at the Isetan Gallery in
Shinjuku, Tokyo during a special exhibition
of Mr. Miura’s work. It is estimated to have
taken him three years to carve and decorate
the grasshopper forecrest. Mr. Miura is not
currently producing any new works.

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