SIGNED JOSHU NO JU SAOTOME IESADA, EARLY EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY)

Details

A FINE SAOTOME HELMET
Signed Joshu no ju Saotome Iesada, Early Edo Period (17th Century)
The russet-iron sixteen-plate bowl somewhat in akoda form [swelling towards the back] signed Joshu no ju Saotome Iesada [Saotome Iesada of Joshu province], well mounted with gilt-copper shinodare to the front, side and two of the rear plates, fukurin [edging] to the suji [flanges] and large igaki, tehen-kanamono [fitting in the top of the bowl] of six tiers in mixed metal, russet-iron mabisashi [peak] and haraidate [crest-holder], shakudo fukurin [edging] and gilt sakura-byo [cherry rivets] with four shakudo nanako and gilt discs each bearing a character which together read Shunten Heihachi; five-tier black-lacquered iron kiritsuke-kozane komanju-jikoro [small rounded neck-guard made up of imitation lamellae] with mauve kebiki-odoshi [close- spaced lacing]; fukigaeshi [turnbacks] black-lacquered with shakudo fukurin [edging], gilt sakura-byo and a mon [crest]; well-made gilt-wood forecrest in the form of a katsuma [Buddhist thunderbolt symbol]

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Lot Essay

Most authorities agree that there was probably two smiths of the Saotome school using the name Iesada. They are best known for their superb sixty-two plate sujibachi and although deviations from this norm are not uncommon this helmet is in a particularly unusual shape.

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