Samurai helmet Hoshi Kabuto

2022
Materials: steel, brass, copper, leather, silk, cotton.
Techniques: metalwork, chasing, engraving, painting on leather, patination, rusting.
Dimensions: 50x38x40 cm

Author’s copy of the samurai helmet hoshi kabuto. Japan, Edo period.

Hoshi kabuto helmet bowl of 20 plates fastened with figured rivets.
Decorative rivets are machined from bolts.
Making a decorative element of the coat of arms – kamon.
Shinodare arrows for the frontal plate.
Engraving of clouds (puffs of smoke) on the front plate.
The frontal plate of the helmet is covered with silver.
Weaving a cord from natural silk.
The visor of the helmet is mabizashi. Steel plate at the base, decorated with brass elements, silk cord and leather painting with a traditional floral pattern.
On the top of most helmets there is a hole – tehen.
It is possible that in the Middle Ages, samurai passed their hair through the tehen to keep the helmet on the head.
In addition, the samurai believed that the spirit of the god of war, Hachiman, passes through the tehen. Therefore, the hole is sometimes called hachiman-za (Hachiman seat).
During the Edo period, the tehen was profusely decorated with several rings made of various metals.
Other projects