Luc T

I follow your poit of view Uwe!

some say "less is more", wel in this case "More is more". Both fora are complementary. When I started with my kabutomania, information was scarce, especially in English. Now experience and knowledge are available for anyone, thanks to these fora. Thanks for the administrators!

Japanese dealers know very well what is happening in the us auction houses, So forget it to find exeptional armor in Japan for prices from 10 year ago. About his armor: 1) do you realy like it? 2) are you sure the mei are correct? 3) don't you have to sell the house, wife and kds to buy it? If 3 times yes...

I agree for the date, I misinterpreted the second character. Anyway, very rare to see a dated Saotome.

Nice, typical late Ietada. Dated 1737 i think, this is only the second Saotome I know that is dated!

precisely Ian , it is an interesting matter. The Dutch gave an old vessel to the Japanese, who in turn donated 2 armors and other items to the Dutch. All countrys tried to gain the Japanese market.

it could be Yoshimichi, the style of the kabuto corresponds with his work.

The Munekane story is at least as interesting as the story of the discovery.... Bas Verberk knew that this armor was a gift from the last Tokugawa shogun to the Dutch king. However, there was no evidence. After the opening of the exhibition, I sent a copy of the catalogue to Teruo Orikasa. He saw the pictures of this armor, and recognised it immediately as the royal armor. He was searching for this set since the late '90, because it was recorded in the diary of Myochin Munekane. At the latest DTI, Orikasa san, Ishida san (a well known Myochin specialist) and myself met to discuss the case. Ishida was studying the Munekane Nikki. The Japanese press jumped on the case, a few articles were published in national newspapers ,unfortunately claiming the discovery to a French resident in Japan, who helped Ishida with the research...

I think this is a dou made first half 18th century. I see Unkai influence. Here another one with the same phoenix.

nice! I follow Ian, it makes me thinking on Muneakira.

Momoyama seems very good possible. Nice kabuto.

hello everybody, don't forget the meeting at teh Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam on may 3, 11h. the curator, Bas Verberk will guide us thought the collection. Perfect opportunity to meet each other. Can everyone please confirm if you will be there? Luc Taelman

normally a Yukinoshita has 7 gessan

UV filters are necessary, but they only filter 50% of the light. As Dave says, you should avoid all daylight. From time to time I see collections displayed in living rooms, full day light. You may be sure that these armors will be totally destroyed after a few decades. Dust, daylight and lack off humidity are disastrous. When I see how Barbier Muller is displaying fine armors in the lobby of a glass building...you may be sure the lacing will be gone in no time. this display case is a good start, but try to change the armor from time to time, or fix the glass with uv filter tape.

Jan, it is rather old for a maedate. I think mid edo. Most maedate are late edo or meiji.

about Rotterdam, good news. The exhibition will last till end of May due to the great succes. Maybe this is an opportunity to organise a meeting among collectors? If this is possible, I try to arrange something with the curator, Bas Verberk.

first off all, welcome Jack! Very fine kabuto! Congratulations! I think is is a late 17 century Haruta. Unsigned? No problem, the quality is stunning, even on the inside.

Ian, Paul, I think you both have a good eye. I also think this is a piece of a tengu, probably a tengu somen. I own a somen of the same style, and on the place of the holes, the hanbo is riveted to the upper part.

nice Kaga work, not Unkai. Never saw a hanbo like this. there must have been a cap mounted on the upper part. Strange..

I think this dou was a domaru in a former life. Therefore, extra fliexibility on the back was needed to open it.

and this is a tanko..

this is the old way to display armor. Collection Gelis, France early 1900'

During my last 2 trips to Japan, I saw several sets of armor that I saw decades ago in Europe. Despite the fact that many Japanese people believe that their works can only be stored in their own country, I found to my surprise that many of those pieces were seriously damaged during their stay in Japan. Either the lacing was completely mortified by exposure to light, or the ironwork was rusted through a maladjusted humidity. I try to do anything possible for a good preservation, not only for myself but also for future owners of my collection. Personally, I keep everything in a totally dark room, with only LED lighting. The humidity is always between 50 and 60%. All tips are wellcome!

I suppose this is the Muneharu o-yoroi? sorry for the bad quality of the picture.

Tatcher, you are crazy!