Luc T

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...

remarcable... Nagamichi is very easy to dertermine. also used several times: hidden odoshi on the shikoro. here is mine

Wow, serious stuff! Nagamichi is considered to be one of the best makers of koboshi kabuto during the edo period. Working dates are around 1700-1750. Unfortunately, he never datet his work. I have a very similar one.

one advice I will give on everybody who want to buy a kabuto or gusoku, buy something really good. You won't find this for a cheap price, but it will satify you instead of give you the permanent feeling you have to acquire something else. One time a lot of money is better than waisting 10 times a bit of money. My most expensive armor gives me every day satisfaction. My cheapest is for sale, but no one wants it.

make it possible for all Western-European Katchu people, now we have to go to Paris, New York or Tokyo. London would be great. I would like to come in contact with UK collectors. I know very few about them and their stuff. What about a European symposium once a year? During the Asia week perhaps?

maybe this was done to fit a special maedate..? do you have a picture of the koshimaki?

Thanks for the link. this seems to be a fine armor.

First impression: late muromachi Soshu Myochin. but, the shiten no byo aren't on the same plates left and right front?? do you have a picture of the koshimaki on the inside of the kabuto?

very nice work! congratulations!

I would say first part 18° century. Not cheap... but good.

I must have missed something, can someone give the correct link to the sale results?

could be momoyama. I do not remember I saw it in a book.

I see a lot of Kaga-Myochin influence, kirigane... nice set anyway.

I wonder who made it, Fukutake san?

I was in Rotterdam yesterday to mount my armors, most of the pieces were already there. It will be a very fine exhibition with several armors that were never shown before. I saw the catalogue, Dutch/English. It will be for sale by email from the museum shop next week. The pictures are very good, lots of details are shown. Really a must have for armorfreaks!

there is a samurai exhibition in Rotterdam, Netherlands from october till march 2013. This in cooperation with the Royal museum for art and history, far eastern department of Brussels, Stibbert museum Florence, Museum of Ethnology Leiden, myself and many others. http://www.wereldmuseum.nl

on the inside of a kabuto-bitsu, I found this text. Can anyone help me with the translation?

nice armor, logically built-up. Could be matching by my opinion. Armors were made to be worn, so there were restaurations and adaptions made all the time. As Ian says, second part 18° century. I don't think the kabuto is a Saotome, however it has several details that are made in the spirit of Saotome, and Takayoshi. The mabezashi is in the style of Saotome ienaga, the overall quality too. The shape and the visible rivetts on the outside not. Does it have a Saotome Byo on the inside, just under the apex of the hachi?