Luc T

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!

Ian, normally I don't like these young armors. Kabuto were mostly grotesque copies of kamakura hachi. But as you say, the menpo is stunning, as you see often with end edo men. The total concept of this set is very attractive. Especially the aspect of changing ito. Definetly the better work for this period.

here a picture from the Royal armor (copy from the catalogue)

Martin, the only source I know is a book: katchu men, from Kazuo Iida. for sale on Amazon I think. But what you ask, is not an easy job, dating menpo...

Ian, it is not the armor in Chappelear's book. This one was given at the same moment, but the armor in question, inspired on a O yoroi, is much more luxury (also stored in Leiden) Both armor came together with some sets of byobu, bows, sets of arrows and so on. It was a present for the king after he gave the fast developping country an old vessel. The Japanese were very much interested in the shipbuilding techniques of the Dutch. I know the English and French gave presents too in the Ansei period, everybody wanted to gain the sympathy of Japan for commercial purposes. Henk-Jan, we have to give the curator a little credit. He is only 28 and has a lot to learn. Anyway, it's a clever youngman, and he is planning to write a thesis about Japanese armor. So I think we are going to hear from him in the future. Maybe Jo has taken a picture on the opening ceremony. I will ask him to post it if he has one.

A few months ago, Lody Duindam from the Dutch Token asked me to loan some pieces on the World Museum in Rotterdam, on the occasion of an exhibition on the Samurai. At the opening, I received some catalogues, and I sent one up to the respected Teruo Orikasa in Japan. Shortly thereafter I received a mail from him if I had more information about an exhibited armor of Munekane . Orikasa and Ishida were since 1999 looking for a harness that the last Shogun gave to the 'French' king. Orikasa thought he recognized this armor in the catalogue. The matter was further investigated, partly by Mr. Ishida, who has a copy of the diary of Munekane. The curator of the exhibition, Bas Verberk, immersed himself in the matter, and soon it was discovered that this armor must have been the gift from the Shogun to the Dutch king in 1855. This discovery made controversy in Japan, and will appear in the Japanese national press "on the most happy day, januari 1" My question now is, does anyone know of armor, signed by Myochin Munekane?

Ian, I suppose your Ietada is the one from your book? Very nice kabuto! 25 seems to be common for Saotome. These koboshi kabuto are so beautifull... I can't imagine how they could make them so perfect.

I just double-checked my Nagamichi, it has 31 rivets.

the nagamichi from christies 2009 has 31rivets per ken. Paul, there was a sale of a famous armor collection. That's the one I am looking for.

Paul, it was the famous october sale 2009, lot 79. My Nagamichi has 32 koboshi per ken. by the way, has anyone the Christies catalogue of 1985 for sale?

by the way John, I saw your beautiful Ietada last thuesday, he's fantastic. Never saw sharp koboshi like this. It almost hurts when you hold it in your hands. Guy, do you have pictures?

John, you are right. Most Saotome koboshi have only two rows on the frontplate. I know only 2 Saotome (Ienao and Iesada) with 3 rows. They did this because the fronsplate is doubled, witch is not the case with Myochin, Haruta and Bamen.

Paul, I once saw a very similar kabuto signed 長途, I have the feeling that it is an other smith or generation. Less perfect than the other one but still very good. Definitly the same school.

thanks for the compliment gentlemen, Paul, here some specific caracteristics of Nagamichi: -the shape of the hachi is very elegant, but different from Saotome, the so called san-saku or Myochin. I recognise them all on their shape, even when they are remounted. -perfect alignement of the koboshi, comparable with the best Saotome. -always 3 rows of koboshi on the frontplate. -boars eye on the maedate-dai -fine dark patina -no shiten no byo -often with russet iron shikoro, invisibly laced. There was an armor with Nagamichi for sale at Christies for sale in 2009 i think. They did not know it because the ukebari was closed. someone I know bought it and had a look inside... perfectly signed Nagamichi...