A JAPANESE TAKEDA CLAN ARMOUR HELMET, KABUTO, FACE MASK, MENPO AND PARTS OF ARMOUR

20th century

A modern kabuto based on Takeda Shingen's Suwahossho Kabuto, topped with a grey mane flowing over a gilt-decorated shikoro, with a horned demon datemono above a pointed mabizashi, a Takeda mon adorning the fukigaeshi, the black-painted iron menpo mask with a detachable nose plate and a pair of L-shaped odayori no kugi cord hooks by the ears, the open mouth lined with gilt teeth beneath a red-lacquered upper lip with white hair moustache, an aperture beneath the chin, the reverse paitned with red lacquer, the throat guard yodarekake with four rows of kiritsuke kozane plates decorated with gilt lacquer, both items with kebiki odoshi lacing in orange silk cord, unsigned, together with black fur shoes, kegutsu with a brocade rim, an orange cord laces and gilt-leather soles and a pair of shin guards, suneate, with gilt lacquer metal plates and blue lacing

kabuto 40cm across, menpo 26cm long, kegutsu 29cm, suneate 35cm (7)