Hoshi suji Kabuto

E-16

Cup (hachi) formed by 17 slabs in the shape of wedges with ribbed margins, reinforced by ovate burrs. At the top of the bowl there is a rather large hole (tehen no ana or hachimanza) with a floral ornamental ring in brass. The front and rear central plates are reinforced and decorated with three and two yellow bronze strips (shinogidare) respectively. The visor (maebashi), internally lacquered in red as was customary for the time, has a golden metal border fixed around the entire perimeter of the visor through small rivets. On it are six small-pointed rivets and three larger flowered rivets at the top in the centre. There is a decoration with an iris petal motif (shobu-gawa) with a woven leather insert and a silk yarn in blue, green, white and gold. The visor has a central insert (haraidate) in which a maedate (missing) was inserted.