Luc T

At first glance You have a nice Saotome here. Unsigned but all the technical features are there. except that it seems made front to back. But better pictures can tell this.

I guess 60% leather. It’s extremely light.

it's all a very logical evolution, from haramaki or domaru to marudou. Look at this one. marudou. c14 prooved +-1575. it was found on the east side of lake Biwa, where it popped up in the seventies. hon kozane, tsutsumi and sugake laced. The point is that a lot more mogamido ar found in the east of Japan, in high and low quality. most of the time, they are executed very sober, as can be expected. in the Yamato and Owari region however, they are rather high ranking stuff, with a lot of colours.

Alex buying armor is not different from buying nihonto I suppose. or you buy cheap and hope you are the only one who saw it on the market: 90% you bought something bad you buy expensive without a lot of pictures or guarantees (auction houses): 50% you bought something bad you buy from a trustworthy known dealer: 90% you bought something good, but maybe expensive. After all, the last case is the best. If the armor is good, you will forget the price and enjoy the item. according to Dr Robert Burawoy, there are 3 options to collect: you spend a lot of money and buy on trustwothy exclusive dealers. you study a lot and pick up the fine things among the crap. or something inbetween. Best way is to learn and to join the Japanese Armor Society . and we don't mention shinsa papers yet..

It’s certainly no saotome., 36 is younger than me (I don’t like to admit this)

I try to understand the clan and school features of armors since decades. It truly is a fascinating world. It is important to understand that switching parts is much more harmful than one can expect at first glance. We are discussing such a series of armors for the moment on our Japanese Armor Society forum. I think our members understand the importance of a complete genuine set. Genuine matching sets become rare and expensive. You may own an armor and do with it whatever you want, you have not broken any law if you put it on fire, repaint it, whatever. But it is stupid and it stays vandalism.

dear Tidiane, you are right of course about the aesthetics, esotheric or the psychological impact of armor. That's what makes Japanese armor so interesting. About the Nio-dou, those I saw from the momoyama or early edo period were uchidashi, no moriage nor papier maché.

There is a kind of Darwinism in the evolution of armor and of course kabuto. If they did not protect as ment when they were made, they dissapeared. A big difference with edo stuff, where status was more important.

I told them several times, Christies too. No action. (Not this set)

Iyozane occured during the Nanbokucho period

Hi Chris, normally, I use a piece of flaking urushi. This is the best part i think. Or a piece of kawa kozane, but these can be older reused kozane. The lab gives an average timespan, withe a certainty of +-80%. C14 is not 100% waterproof, but is is, as I said, to confirm my thoughts. This dou is comparable withe the golden one of Maeda Toshiie. 1570-1580. I tend to date armor on their style, proven reference material, and scientific examination. Not one of these 3 is an axioma, but the 3 together give a good impression of the reality. btw, i c14 tested almost all my pre-momoyama armors. After 1640, these tests are useless due to sun fluctuations. btw, the earlier Mori Takamasa's armor differs indeed qua muna ita and waki ita. i have to come back on my words, it may be later than 1580.

I would place this ‘marudou’ rather between 1570-1580. I have one, And c14 tests confirm this.

A yukinoshita is indeed a cavalry armor, way to heavy and not very flexible

A lot of fakes are made nowadays, other armors or pieces are pimped to impress or sell for more. Sogonari is an easy target, all you need is a zunari and boarfurr. Another trick is red lacquer, red sells good. Or to add kirigane… when money is involved, anything is possible.

I see, it’s from the last magazine. I did not receive it yet due to custom troubles.

I Know Mr Otsuka for a while, he is a successful entrepreneur. I had no idea he ever made a kabuto. Apparently as a true Japanese, he did not show off with his skills. Orikasa sensei once told me it is necessary to make a kabuto one in your life to understand the construction. Small detail, he ws talking about a 62 plate suji kabuto.

It’s not that bad to be in armor Brian, on the contrary! Me and a lot of other people love their beauty every day. And that’s what it is all about.

One more, Munekane (Munechika?)

A touching testimony of your relation with your sensei. Share his skills and his values Andy.

Dear Miura san, The papers used for Christies upcoming auction are not made by your organisation in Japan??

If I count well, it has 25 koboshi per row. Thus it could be Saotome, but the mabezashi points in the direction of Haruta. Certainly edo, I guess second part 17th

Congatulations, a very Nice early kabuto. A rare find!

Mark, I have no pictures of it, sorry. There are several other katchushi who signed restored armors, or parts. Most of them however, signed with urushi.

Logan, it was a simple ni mai dou, zunari kabuto an hanpo. nothing special.

I know other Munechika armors with a Yoshimichi kabuto… coincidentally?