Antiques Roadshow

GUEST: It's been in the family since World War II.

And, uh, my father, when he was 14 here in Arkansas, ran away from home because his father was in Europe fighting.

And my dad wanted to join the army, too.

But at 14, the Marines said no, the Army said no.

So he thought he would head toward Canada and join the Canadian forces and deploy from there.

Well, he didn't make it to Canada because his uncle found him before he crossed the border.

But he did... his uncle did take him to a military store, a large one, Bannerman's in New York, where he saw this helmet and bought it.

APPRAISER: Do you know how much he paid for it?

GUEST: Well, I think probably a 14-year-old boy from Arkansas in 1943 probably didn't have a lot of money, and, uh, so I'm sure it was just a matter of pennies or a few dollars back then.

APPRAISER: This is a Japanese russet iron helmet, a kabuto, called a southern barbarian helmet or Namban helmet.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: Made in Japan in the late 18th or early 19th century.

It's actually fashioned on a Portuguese...

GUEST: Mm.

APPRAISER: ...or a Spanish late 16th century helmet.

There would have been a multi-tiered, what they call shikoro...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ....or neck guard.

And the inside would have been fitted with a leather interior for comfort and also to position it properly on the wearer's head.

This is actually the Buddha of Infinite Light...

GUEST: Mm.

APPRAISER: ...who represents the Pure Land sect of Mahayana Buddhism.

And he is standing on a cloud here.

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: And he is actually in what they call the position of Amida raigo.

And the symbolism is the Buddha descending to welcome the believer into the western paradise.

This would have been worn...

GUEST: Mm-hmm.

APPRAISER: ...in battle by a samurai warrior.

GUEST: Wow.

APPRAISER: This would have been a battle helmet, and it is actually etched and embellished with gold and silver in the decoration of the clouds and the Buddha.

It's a wonderful piece.

Do you have any idea what you think it's worth?

GUEST: Oh, absolutely no idea.

I'd say just guessing between $2,000 and $3,000, I would probably say.

APPRAISER: Well, at auction, you're a little conservative.

I would say at the auction block, somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000.

GUEST: Oh, wow, I won't put it on my head then.

Never have.

(laughs)