Sanemasa Bessho | Golden Dragon Head Helmet
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews
This helmet ornament by Jisso Bessho features a striking, dynamic dragon. Meticulously crafted with delicate metalwork and three-dimensional rivets on the bowl, it is a truly artistic piece unique to Jisso.
A one-of-a-kind helmet ornament crafted with Japan's finest techniques
Master artisan Jisso Bessho
A one-of-a-kind creation born from Japan's finest techniques. Jisso Bessho is a solitary armor maker who stands apart from all others.
His mastery of metalwork and forging techniques produces exquisite works of art. Elegance within strength. A profound sense of presence unlike any other.
It will be a work of art that remains beautiful for generations to come.
Japan's finest
ingenious and delicate metalwork
The crest base, round metal fittings on the neck guard, and lower fittings are all formed by repeatedly drilling 0.7 mm holes and cutting them out with a jeweler's saw.
Unlike holes made by conventional etching, this method produces thicker, deeper, and more precise details, resulting in meticulously crafted decorative fittings.
They are made using forging techniques where copper plates are repeatedly hammered to create intricate leaf patterns and shapes. Because each piece can only be made by hand, it is a truly dedicated work imbued with the artist's passion.
The Art of Weaving Odoshi Ito
The Beauty and Precision of the Assembled Bowl
From the hachiman-za at the top of the bowl to the very bottom, numerous vertical lines (ken) are incorporated. The bowl is assembled from metal plates joined along these lines. Even the slightest deviation in spacing will prevent the bowl from being perfectly formed.
Furthermore, rivets are driven into these plates in a regular, predetermined pattern. This also requires precise placement and force. This small helmet has 24 ken and approximately 240 rivets. A single "work of art" is created through an endless process starting from raw materials and completed entirely by hand.
This delicate beauty, reminiscent of jewelry, is a level of artistry that only Jisso can express.
Ingenious Metalwork Done Entirely by Hand
About the Display Stand
Jisso Bessho possesses the character of a fine art piece that stands apart from mass-produced items.
Chosen with an adult eye, this timeless, high-quality masterpiece is a seasonal ornament that children will still want to display even after they grow up and become adults.
We hope you enjoy a wonderful seasonal celebration that brings smiles to the whole family for many years to come.
Artist Profile
Armor Maker: Jisso Bessho
Born in Asakusa, Tokyo, he has been engaged in armor making. He has devoted himself to the study of armor and swords from the Heian period to the end of the Edo period, and is working on the production of armor using techniques such as metalwork and forging. By producing a compact type of Date Masamune's helmet, he is producing high-quality helmets suitable for modern life while utilizing traditional techniques.
Born in Asakusa, Tokyo, in 1954.
1972: Began working on armor making. His master was his father, Jisso Bessho II.
1983: Became independent.
Took the name of the third-generation Jisso Bessho.
1993: Repair of the long-lasting metal fittings of the Kawaiguchi Kikan collection.
1999: Production of a three-pronged crest helmet and doumaru armor
reproduction of the armor of Nagamasa Tsugunari.
2001: Announced the production of Tokugawa Ieyasu's "Daikoku-zukin helmet"
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's "Black Lacquer Maran Helmet"
Kuroda Nagamasa's "Black Lacquer Silver Leaf Helmet".
2004: Announced the creation of a helmet with an original crest.
2007: Announced the compact type of Date Masamune's helmet.
2009: Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Reproduction of the "Saito Sanemori Helmet of the Taita Shrine Treasure".
2017: First solo exhibition at "Higashi-Gyoku" in Saitama City.
