Someone just bought a very expensive reproduction.

[estcrh]

This menpo was listed a an "antique" and as being "cast iron", it is neither, the buyer should ask for a refund. The menpo is vintage at best and it is stamped not cast.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 7244wt_934

[sanjuro]

But Eric...... Its so pretty and the 'Gotta have it' bug was obviously biting one or two buyers. Sometimes its just about beating the other guy at auction and only later does the remorse at having paid too much sink in. :? Anyhow, maybe the ultimate buyer had a set of reproduction armour that this matches, which makes you wonder what type of collector we are dealing with here. (Nice wall hanging, though a bit pricey).....

[estcrh]

The first clue is the small hooks (orekugi) on both sides of the menpo's face used for attaching the helmet cord, this should be square and bent not round and curved, a very easy way to spot a replica. Here is an example of how they should look The almost complete lack of wear is another thing to look for. While you can find pristine examples I do not think they will come up for sale on ebay, at least not at this price. I have added a link to some Antique Edo period menpo.

 

http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz23 ... ?start=all

 

[IanB]

Eric, I noted that one and had a little smile to myself. Other give aways are the fukurin on the tare plates. Real armour has about 1/8" of the plate edges turn out to about 45 degrees and then has a fillet of filler piped into the angle giving a small raised beading of lacquer. These plates have an applied soft metal rim. Even more recognisable is the inside of fake masks. With a real mask the lacquerer would ensure that all the various surfaces on the inside were well filled and smoothed to avoid discomfort to the wearer. An inside view should show absolutely no trace of applied teeth, rivet heads or anything else - just smooth flowing surfaces of generally red lacquer. Fakers seem quite content to just apply a coat of red paint and call that it. There has been a so-called somen on eBay recently which looks very impressive from the outside, but the interior shot show the lower part of the mask properly lacquered whilst the brow plate just painted. A poor conversion of a menpo into a somen.

Ian Bottomley