Restoration - Kato Gusoku Samurai Arts Museum Berlin

[DaveT]

As you walk into the Samurai Arts Museum Berlin, the main display case hosts a truly outstanding Kato armour.

 

Originally worn by Kato Yasuzumi (加藤泰済, 1785-1826) who was the 10th Kato daimyo of the Ozu fief of Iyo province.

The original black odoshi has rotted away. Peter Janssen, the owner, wanted the armour to look its best for the Grand Opening night. So I got the call, Peter flew me out from the UK to inspect the armour and following on he commissioned me to make a replacement custom braid and to conduct the restoration.

 

I returned to Berlin and the restoration took me 78hrs to complete, I set up a small workstation in the basement of the museum. During my time at the Museum, an elderly gentleman by the name of Okawado was staying at the Villa to attend the opening. It transpires that Okawado Sensei was the personal friend and student of the famous Dr Sasama. Okawado watched me work on the armour, and I could feel the pressure bear down on me daily. At the end of the restoration, he inspected the armour and said that he approves of my standard. In fact, he liked the work so much that he wanted to give me Dr Sasama's original notes on katchushi as a gift. This gesture completely humbled me.

 

As a gendai katchushi, I can only try my hardest to learn and work to the required standard of our Japanese masters. To gain any form of recognition is in its entirety the best reward I can ever receive. This motivates me to learn more and try even harder to preserve the way.
 

Thank you Okawado Sensei. Thank you, Peter, for bringing us together.

I now have two more restoration projects in progress for the museum.

 

The Samurai Art Museum is truly a place of inspiration!

 

 

 

 

[EdWolf]

Very impressive!

Regards, Ed

[BIG]

Congrats Dave..

 

Best Regards

[Greg F]

Well done and congrats Dave.

 

Greg

[Viper6924]

To someone like me, who truly knows how much time and effort you put into your work, this comes as no surprise.

This "official" stamp of approval was long overdue.

 

Jan

[IanB]

As one who was there, I can only add to what others have said. Dave's work on this magnificent and important armour has saved it for many decades to come. I saw the armour earlier in the year and it was in a very delicate state with the black lacing was almost crumbing to dust as you watched. A great piece of work

Ian Bottomley

[Gakusee]

Congratulations and well done, Dave! Kudos well deserved.

[Bazza]

Very inspirational indeed.  What are the thick green and white cords that loop around the box and what are their purpose???  I've never seen these in any illustration that I can recall.

 

BaZZa.

[DaveT]

Very inspirational indeed.  What are the thick green and white cords that loop around the box and what are their purpose???  I've never seen these in any illustration that I can recall.

 

BaZZa.

Just for lugging them around. The hitsu are large and heavy.

[Baka Gaijin]

Mornin' Dave.,

 

Masterly

 

Now work twice as hard................. Sleep is for losers 

[BIG]

Newspaper

 

https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article212173167/Der-Weg-der-Samuai-fuehrt-jetzt-bis-Zehlendorf.html

 

Best Regards

[DaveT]

Newspaper

 

https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article212173167/Der-Weg-der-Samuai-fuehrt-jetzt-bis-Zehlendorf.html

 

Best Regards

Cool, I got a mention too. Thanks for the heads up Peter.

 

Die Kunstwerke wurden über Jahrhunderte in japanischen Familien weitergegeben, gepflegt und zum Teil auch dem Zeitgeist angepasst. So lässt sich auch der hervorragende Zustand der Exponate erklären, meint Janssen. Zudem waren vor der Ausstellung Experten wie der Brite David Thatcher, Spezialist für japanische Waffenrestaurierung, am Werk. Acht Tage brauchte er, um in die prächtige Rüstung 120 Meter Seidenband einzuweben.

 

The works of art have been passed on to Japanese families for centuries, and have been adapted to the time. This explains the excellent condition of the exhibits, says Janssen. In addition, experts such as the Britishman David Thatcher, a specialist in Japanese arms restoration, were working on the exhibition. Eight days he needed to weave in the magnificent armor 120 meters of silk ribbon.

[Guido]

 

For reasons of space, the museum can not exhibit the entire collection ...

 

[DaveT]

Most museums are in the same position, hence the rotation of exhibits.

 

I can confirm that the storerooms are also nearly full. Amazing. 

[tom]

As Dave said, the Kato Yoroi is truly outstanding. Alone the opening was great,i have met many friends and customers at the opening.

And the Party after the opening was exellent.

Thank you to Peter.

 

Pictures of the opening you can find here. 

 

https://www.facebook.com/samuraiartmuseum/photos/pcb.1947968855441365/1947968508774733/?type=3&theater

 

 

Tom

[Anthony de Vos]

Hi!

 

Exellent work Dave! I have always been a happy customer. The price of some of my stuff just went up, restaurated by such distinguished katchushi. You have earned the cudos, you never gave up. The Dr Sasama part is a huge recognition.

 

Anthony

[vajo]

That is very outstanding Dave. What an excellent work. 

[Stefan]

Yes ,  the  storehouse  is  full....So  many  swords to be done...

[Gakusee]

Is there a catalogue somewhere or inventory of the swords in this museum? I would be interested in ascertaining the quality of the blades (not necessarily the koshirae) and would be grateful if someone could kindly share such inventory.

The expectations overall have been raised very highly by various comments predominantly appertaining to armour.

[DaveT]

Is there a catalogue somewhere or inventory of the swords in this museum? I would be interested in ascertaining the quality of the blades (not necessarily the koshirae) and would be grateful if someone could kindly share such inventory.

The expectations overall have been raised very highly by various comments predominantly appertaining to armour.

You will need to contact the museum directly for the catalogue. 

[uwe]

Is there a catalogue somewhere or inventory of the swords in this museum? I would be interested in ascertaining the quality of the blades (not necessarily the koshirae) and would be grateful if someone could kindly share such inventory.

The expectations overall have been raised very highly by various comments predominantly appertaining to armour.

There is currently no catalog, as far as I know. And I doubt you get access to the inventory

[DaveT]

There is currently no catalog, as far as I know. And I doubt you get access to the inventory

I spoke to Markus, there will be three catalogues.

 

1. Armour

2. Masks and Kabuto

3. Nihonto and Tosogu

 

This is a private museum, like the Met in New York.  With national museums, you can request to see items, but with private museums, there is no public right of access. 

[Nickupero]

Superb Dave, thank you for sharing your experience with us... certainly an experience to remember Definitely a place to visit when I make my way to Berlin one day

[Shogun8]

This is a private museum, like the Met in New York.  With national museums, you can request to see items, but with private museums, there is no public right of access. 

 

 

The Met is not a private museum. However, there is no public right of access, as with private museums. One can make requests for scholarly studies, but such requests are usually from institution to institution.

[DaveT]

The Met is not a private museum. However, there is no public right of access, as with private museums. One can make requests for scholarly studies, but such requests are usually from institution to institution.

Sounds privately owned to me.

 

"Although the City of New York owns the museum building and contributes utilities, heat, and some of the cost of guardianship, the collections are owned by a private corporation of fellows and benefactors which totals about 950 persons. The museum is governed by a board of trustees of 41 elected members, several officials of the City of New York, and persons honored as trustees by the museum."

 

 

In the UK John we have museums that are owned by the Crown. We have a right to see items by appointment.

[Bugyotsuji]

Michael, your wording above: "I would be interested in ascertaining the quality of the blades" might cause a museum to pause before granting viewing rights!

[Gakusee]

Hi Piers

I cheekily posted that before the wider reports of what was available there by various privileged members who were invited to its opening or on other occasions. Now, with the benefit of the subsequent posts, I understand there are various high-grade Yamashiro blades there (there was a post somewhere here with a picture of the Rai blades and their arrangement etc). I look forward to visiting the museum one day and seeing the catalogues. Of course “quality” could be in the eye of the beholder but could also be relatively objective.

[Bugyotsuji]

Having reread this thread which I derailed earlier, may I just say that the armour looks truly splendid, a combination of art, history and love. Stunning. Congratulations to all involved in bringing this to rightfully splendid fruition.