Samurai Kawari Kabuto “nyūdō”

A rare kawari kabuto helmet depicting the head of an elderly yamabushi, a mountain ascetic, accompanied by a menpō mask. Edo period (1603–1868).

The mask and helmet—the latter unusually lacking a shikoro (neck guard), are crafted from high-quality steel using the uchidashi technique and feature an artificially developed patina (sabimono). On the front of the helmet, marked with stylized wrinkles (shiwa), is an authentic tokin made of fabric, a head covering used by yamabushi in their spiritual practices, particularly in Dewa Province.

The me-no-shita-bō-style face mask features a fierce expression (ressei-bō) and wrinkles (shiwa) that match those of the helmet. The lateral edges of its lower section end in unusual stylized ears, which fit into symmetrical cutouts on the sides of the helmet.

The tare throat guard consists of kiritsuke-sane lamellae, assembled using a sukage-style lacing technique with a dark blue odoshi-ito cord in the shade known as Hachiman-guro.

This is an unusual type of kawari kabuto, a highly personalized helmet crafted with exceptional mastery of the art of armor-making.