Saotome Iyetada Kabuto

[Tengu1957]

Could not remember if I had ever posted other than the one Katchu. This is an Edo jidai armor with signed Kabuto and Menpo by Naguchi Zesai 

Trap door in Do and medicine compartments in the Kote. Mon can not be found. 

[Luc T]

Gary, here you have a armor with a long and interesting  history.  Did you read the study by mr Robert Burawoy?

[Tengu1957]

No I have not read it , would you please share it with us. 

[Luc T]

It is in French,  is that no problem?

[Tengu1957]

Not if your in France or Louisiana but since I'm in North Carolina it would not be possible. Could you give us a brief summary ? 

[uwe]

May I have a close up of the mon, Gary?

[Tengu1957]

If you tap on the image you can expand it. I'm not at home right now. Mr. Bottomley said there was a Kabuto at the Tower collection with the same Mon and they could not find it either. 

[uwe]

Ok, looks like “tsuta” on “jigami” (Ivy on a fan paper)!

I’ve just received a huge mon book (about 1300 pages) and by chance found your mon. As soon as I know how to handle it, I can give it a try, if you like.....

[Laurent in France]

I Don t find mon I was looking In the Satake family and variants but no I Don t think... 

[Tengu1957]

Uwe, if you can find the Mon I would appreciate it very much. It would be interesting to understand who owned it. Thank you 

[uwe]

In advance Gary!

 

"Chû kage jigami ni tsuta" (no warranty)

 

 

 

 

 

Admittedly, the quality of the pictures are rather bad, but it works. Should be your mon, isn't it. First glance, it seems related to "Hamada or "Makibuchi" family (if I get the names right?!). I have to translate the rest later on....

(or somebody with better reading skills is faster than me here 😉)

The problem with the lesser known families is, that it will be hard to research, due to the lack of accessible records....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Shogun8]

Wonderful and rare armour, Gary! If the menpo is indeed signed, that would be even more special. There are other Zesai armour with similar characteristically Iwai menpo, but they are not signed.

[Laurent in France]

I agree nice menpo,  I ve always like the zesai teeth characteristics... 

[uwe]

It's mostly based on guesswork to assigning a family to a specific mon, without other hints concerning the pedigree of a piece....

So to close the case (also by the seemingly lack of interest). The text is pointing to the "陸前国..." (Rikuzen province). Former part of "陸奥" (Mutsu) in the Tôhoku region!

 

Anyway, great armor!

[Tengu1957]

Thank you for the information and your time.