Mempo Information Sought

[hddennis]

I posted pictures of my Mempo on a recent post about my kabuto but no one commented on it so I thought I'd try again. I'd appreciate  learning anything  about this such as age, style name and school if known. 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Happy Holidays.

Howard Dennis

[uwe]

Hello Howard,

this type is called ressei-men (mask with fierce expression). Most probably mid Edo and primarily from the Nara region. So we can assume, it might be a work from the Haruta school of armorers...

 

More info available 😉

[hddennis]

uwe, thank you so much, what more is available?

 

Howard Dennis

[uwe]

You are welcome.

Oh...., some boring technical terms and a bit historical background.....but for now....😴...sry!

[uwe]

Hi Howard,

 

some additions, as promised!

 

The above mentioned "春田" (Haruta) are, besides the "岩井" (Iwai), one of the oldest schools of armorers in Japan and the region around Nara/Kyoto is, since centuries,  known as an center of armor production ("鎧造の里",yoroi tsukuri no sato). A lot of workshops were based there, as also merchants "具足家" (Gusokuya), who assembled every part of armor according to customer reqirements.

For the latter, the Iwai became famous, by the way!

Well, back to your mask. It's a "目の下頬" (me-no-shita-bô, a mask, covering the face from under the eyes to the chin and featuring a nose). A bit complex, I admit....

You will find a lot of masks like yours with an always similar basic shape, but in terms of color, mustache, throat guard, ears, teeths....etc., slightly diffrent executed. So it represents one, of at least two, type of men-pô, those were "mass produced" (I don't like the term) by unknown specialised artisians. Afterwards customized and incorporated in an armor, or perhaps sold as is. The fact, that non of the specimens I came across were signed, should support this theorie?! That said, doesn't mean bad quality at all!!!

 

Hope it sparks some interest...

 

 

 

[hddennis]

Uwe, what a great Christmas gift your extra effort has given me, Thank You. A lot of the many Japanese items I collect leave me wondering many unanswered questions. Thanks to you I know pretty much all there is to know about this piece and that's a pretty great feeling! 

 

Just another question Please. What are your thoughts on restoration of this piece? Yes , No,  Outrageously expensive?  hard to find a proper restorer? Or just enjoy it as is.

 

Happy Holidays to you and yours,

 

Howard Dennis

[Luc T]

Howard, I think you better restore the urushi.  But be carefull, it is a very special colour.   You need a professional to do it.

[uwe]

Hello again Howard,

 

now you raise a real weak point of collecting Japanese armor (and Nihon-to I assume)....Restoration!

Apart from the costs, sometimes more than the purchase price, professional restorers in this field are very few and far between. Nobody in the US I’m aware of (please correct me if I’m wrong.....). A few in Europe and Japan, mostly with a long waiting list.

Anyway, I’m with Luc, if it were mine, I would like to have it restored. But then, you facing another problem....the color. As Luc mentioned, red is very difficult to match and needs an really experienced “katchu-shi” to fill the gaps, so to say.

Merry Christmas!

 

PS: Feel free to pm me for recommendations.
 

[hddennis]

Uwe, I just wrote a PM and it says you cannot receive messages??

 

Howard Dennis

[uwe]

Oops...will check!

[uwe]

Should work now