Last of my old collection

[Lindus]

Would be interested in opinions on this hambo.

Roy

[Shogun8]

Roy,

 

I've always been intrigued by this piece in your collection. The fine yasurime, openwork on the chin and the patina of the iron make me think Unkai. However, I wonder about the row of holes running along the top edge of the piece. This and the shape of the mouth lead me to believe that this once had a nosepiece or upper part riveted to it.

 

Nice piece.

 

John

[Luc T]

nice Kaga work, not Unkai.

Never saw a hanbo like this. there must have been a cap mounted on the upper part. Strange..

[IanB]

I too am sure it is Kaga work. Looking at the way the lacquer is recessed inside there has obviously been an extra plate attached to the cheeks. Whether this bridged across the gap and extended into a nose we cannot now say with any confidence, but for what it is worth, my suggestion is that it once had a tengu nose. I say this because of the way the lower lip rises in the centre. Whatever, it has been a very fine piece of work.

Ian Bottomley

[Iekatsu]

What was attached to the upper section was shown in this thread. What, if anything was attached before that is anyone's guess.

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8282&p=67971&hilit=garden#p67971

[myochin]

Nice Hambo, reminds me of Hôrai work.

The deep profile (protection extends behind the ears) and the colour of the internal lacquer (brown) also points to an early date (pre-Edo).

I guess the hole marks along the upper chin area are from someone adding an upper part to form a sômen (sadly).

 

Paul.

[Luc T]

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.

[Lindus]

Had totally forgotten that,sorry folks.