The Japanese Legacy Symposium IV in New York

[Mischa Verhage]

Yes John, all parts are signed and dated, but by the person who assembled the armor, not by Saotome Ietsugu.

Hi Luc, thanks for the interesting info. Like John I was wondering the same. Do you know the translation of the the signature?

Saotome by..... Assembler Xxx from the Saotome school...?

You speak about an assembler. An assembler from the Saotome school or was it assembled in for example a workshop where a Saotome helmet was put together with for example a Myochin dou etc etc, laced into on new piece... Signed with the assembler with red urushi with a laster date than the Saotome signature on the helmet.
Is that what you mean maybe?

[Luc Taelman]

Mischa, it is an unknown katchushi, not related with the elder kabuto. Pictures will follow.

[Luc Taelman]

here the inscription on the yodarekake. It is on all pieces of the armor.
it reads: "Bunsei, year of the tiger (1830), armor made/assembled/finished gy the same craftsman Niwa Masanaga"

[Piers Dowding]

Luc, have you tried searching for Iba Masanaga? 伊庭　正長

There was a famous Iba family. (see the Bushi Iba Hachirou) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A ... B%E9%83%8E

The Mei could be cut after 製 (made), and the next character might not be 作 but 伊

[Luc Taelman]

you could be right Piers, see the text on the shikoro
thanks for the input

[Mischa Verhage]

It might be assembled for war...
Really nice armor!

[Luc Taelman]

I rather think is is a complete set made by that Masanaga in 1830, using an old kabuto. It was a time where a lot changed in Japan, and the bushido were nostalgic for their military history. So they started making functional armor again.

[Piers Dowding]

BTW thanks for the shikoro shot. That confirms the Mei to be Iba 伊庭 Masanaga.

[Uwe Sacklowski]

Good eye and a nice find Piers

[Piers Dowding]

Uwe, it was those two horizontal strokes sticking out left, wrong for 作 Saku. As you know, they should not cross the upright. I began wondering why, and playing with other possibilities...