LAUSR

Novel magnetic phases are expected to occur in highly frustrated spin systems. Here, we study the structurally perfect kagome antiferromagnet $\mathrm{CdC}{\mathrm{u}}_{3}{(\mathrm{OH})}_{6}{({\mathrm{NO}}_{3})}_{2}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ by magnetization, magnetic torque, and heat capacity measurements using single crystals. An antiferromagnetic order accompanied by a small spontaneous magnetization that surprisingly is confined in the kagome plane sets in at ${T}_{\mathrm{N}}\ensuremath{\sim}4\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, well below the nearest-neighbor exchange interaction $J/{k}_{\mathrm{B}}=45\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. This suggests that a unique ``$\mathbf{q}=0$'' type ${120}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ spin structure with ``negative'' (downward) vector chirality, which breaks the underlying threefold rotational symmetry of the kagome lattice and thus allows a spin canting within the plane, is exceptionally realized in this compound rather than a common one with ``positive'' (upward) vector chirality. The origin is discussed in terms of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.