Those of you who know me know that I have a penchant for tall kawari kabuto. Perhaps it's because so few, if any, people truly depict them in all their extravagant glory. And yes, I believe one can safely claim a silver-leafed crest in the stylized shape of a catfish tail over 4 ft. long as extravagant!
The crest is built around a 6in. piece of sheet brass. I am not sure what the original is made from, but I suspect it is wood: most of the extravagantly-sized, two-dimensional crests, regardless of their positioning, were made of laminated wood.
As of this writing, I project the bust to be comprised of 4 pieces: head/kabuto, torso, shikoro, and mabisashi/uchimabisashi (brow plate). As always when at these early stages, subject to change.
Before closing, a nod of gratitude to Prof. Stephen Turnbull for graciously providing the core reference images.
To be continued. . .
Great work! 4 pieces.......is that an indication that his piece will be produced for sale?
ReplyDeleteI had to ask!
Bill
Kon'nichiwa, Bill-sama!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the blog, and I am delighted to say that you have graced it with its first comment!
I don't mean to appear as if I'm waffling, but I haven't committed myself one way or the other. I will say that I am seriously considering releasing the piece--as long as that is a possibility, I have to approach the design and sculpture as if it were going to be produced.
Personally, I would love to relaunch the series. In spite of all the recent clamoring for the old Ft. Duq busts, I still have to question the viability of historically accurate, feudal Japanese portrait busts in today's market. Nonetheless, as an indication of how seriously I'm considering this, the next three subjects have been tentatively selected. . .
Stay tuned. . . and GO 'YOTES!!!!!
Augie
Augie,
ReplyDeleteLet me be the 2nd to post on your "Newest" blog!- (portrait busts of Great Daimyo's of Feudal Japan) You know how much I enjoy this format so I look forward to seeing many more projects!!:-)) ALL THE GREATEST SUCCESS!!!
As for your latest project. All I can say is WHOA!!!:-)) What a kabuto. I don't think he is going to fit on the shelve with the rest of your magnificiant Daimyo's. I might have to give him his own "little" cabinet!!!.... I look forward to it's progress with much anticipation!!
Thank you, my friend. . . and WELCOME!!!
ReplyDeleteI think he just might fit--or maybe not. . . I just finished measuring the bust: overall height MINUS BASE is 9.25". Glad I didn't decide to do him in 1/4 scale!!! ::LOL::
If you are forced to give him his own niche, best look into a secure one: there's going to be a considerable amount of Japanese silver on this one! ;-)
Best get back to the house-work. . . we'll talk soon! Best to the family,
A~
Augie;
ReplyDeleteI fully understand your reluctance, given what is purchased or not in today's marketplace, but as you I have discussed off-line, I think the old series needs to be relaunched. Toshinaga would be a great place to start. If you decide to release it, put me down for 3 copies. (I am not going to get caught short 3 years from now when the rest of the hobby world wakes up and realizes (as they did with the Ft Duq series) that your Samurai series was the best there ever was! I really regret not taking the plunge when Jim Johnston put the masters up for sale.
Omedetou!
Bill
Arigatō gozaimasu, watashi no tomodachi!
ReplyDeleteIt was our last conversation that shifted my perspective on the series in question. And as of this writing, 4 of the 8 original busts would be re-released in significantly revised and/or accurized versions.
Part of my reluctance is due to the fact that the hobby world on the cusp of the second decade of the 21st c. is considerably different than that of the last decade of the 20th. And how does one create a committed following for a subject with an evinced interest that is at best erratic? One step at a time. . .
Everything happens for a reason, my friend. While this approach might take a little longer, if the new series gets launched, I think we will all be the better for it.
Thanks again!
A~
Augie,
ReplyDeleteI just measured rhe height of my shelve. It is 12.25" exactly. That means the base with foot can be NO higher than 3"!! Ideally 2.25" would be optimum. I thought you would want to know for planning purposes.
Give my love to Cris and you take care!
Very impressive! Include me in the group of miniaturists ready to back you in the release of a new line of 1/8 Diamyo busts. Looking forward to watching this one progress.
ReplyDeleteKreston
As luck would have it I have a space for a tall bust (or four) between the mounted samurai and De Tara's Takeda Shingen so you can put me down for one as well. It certainly will be an impressive sight once the leaf is done.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seing this one evolve.
Jason
Lloyd,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the head's up, my man! That's good to know for future projects.
Insofar as this pup is concerned, we should be good to go. Actually I was planning on a 2-2.5" base all along, so the fin of the tail should have some wiggle room. . . ;-)
All the best,
A~
Kreston,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all. . . WELCOME! Good to have you on board!!
And thank you for your words of support. I designed (conceptually) the mold during my lunch break today, and I think I've worked out most of the troublesome kinks: the critical head/kabuto mold will be all but seamless!
Stay tuned!
A~
Jason,
ReplyDeleteWelcome, my friend!!!
It will be impressive whether it is leafed OR lacquered. I can only imagine what this would have looked like in its day!!! I read an interesting theory re: the height of kabuto and/or their enhancements the other day: it proposed that one of the contributing factors for their disproportionate height was a response to the "fog of war" generated by the teppō.
Thanks, Jas'!
A~