Helmet (Suji Kabuto)
Inscribed by Yoshihisa Japanese
Inscribed by Nobumasa Japanese
The helmet bears the signatures of the armorer, Yoshihisa, who lived in Uda, in Echizen Province (modern Fukui Prefecture), and of the decorator, Nobumasa, also of Echizen.
The Yoshihisa lineage of armorers came to Echizen province in the late 16th century where it produced armors, tsuba (sword guards), okimono (ornaments), and other iron/steel objects for eleven generations until the end of the Edo period. The first master, whose real name was Ide Kozaemon (Yoshihisa was the name he used as an armorer) and who was most likely the maker of this helmet, died in 1664.
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