Hmmm, hello Brian, happy new year! I just woke up...
repro armor. .. why not, but I can’t say much about it.
some Young Japanese try to make an old style yoroi once in their life.
Our new yearbook ‘Katchū’ will be launched early january:
The articles:
Robert Burawoy The case of the upside down mon
Martyna Lesniewska The Nagasone school of armour making
Paul Vandermaelen Osaka Castle
Guy de la Rupelle A study of maedate
Jesper Paasch A harikaki kawari kabuto
Jo Anseeuw Interview with master armor maker Nishioka Fumio
Takemura Masao Date Masamune and armor- with a focus on Yukishita-do
I would not be surprised if someone made the mei more readable at a certain point. This could well be a real Myōchin Munehisa, the son of sansaku Yoshimichi.
56 is a rather strange number for a suji kabuto. But also this is an indication of the Tohoku region, and the 16th century. Cherish it Howard, it is a fine kabuto.
Howard, the upper row of rivets is alternating. This was something done by Yoshimichi and his followers.
this kabuto looks early, 16th century. But there exist 19th century copies of this style. Anyway, I think yours is early.
the interesting part is the combination of the menpo with this kind of kabuto. Zesai used this kind of shikoro and tare, bus not this kind of hachi. if they are born together, then the kabuto dates from around 1700.
Robert, the kabuto is an edo product, the shinodare and broader plates on the sides are typical for that period. Probably Haruta school, or Odawara region.
Nice old style kabuto!