Not the real Deal #2 - Modern made Menpō
- Peter Frischknecht
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Not the real Deal #2 - Modern made Menpō
Another item frequently showing up on online auctions is a faceguard with attached nose (menpō).
This menpō exists in a several variations.
You will find russet, brown, and black colored masks and the throat guard (tare) might differ as well.
Sometimes you will even find masks equipped with an original period tare.
What really stays the same is the identical base shape and facial expression.
Using the following pictures for reference you should be able to easily identify these masks.
This menpō exists in a several variations.
You will find russet, brown, and black colored masks and the throat guard (tare) might differ as well.
Sometimes you will even find masks equipped with an original period tare.
What really stays the same is the identical base shape and facial expression.
Using the following pictures for reference you should be able to easily identify these masks.
Last edited by Peter Frischknecht on Mon Nov 26, 2018 11:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Always eager to learn! (*^-^)b
Some of my areas of interest:
My mengu collection, Study on a group of Kuroda armors, Study of Kaga armors
Some of my areas of interest:
My mengu collection, Study on a group of Kuroda armors, Study of Kaga armors
- Peter Frischknecht
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Re: Not the real Deal #2
There's two more, but not always obvious, giveaways:
On some makes you can easily identify weld spots, where the ears are fixed to the face part.
Of course there was no period spot-welding, which makes these masks modern made.
The hooks on the cheeks (odayorinokugi) are for fastening faceguard and helmet (kabuto) to the wearer's head.
What you see on the modern masks is basically a thick wire bent at a 90° angle. On period items these are made by forging, resulting in a more complex shape.
On some makes you can easily identify weld spots, where the ears are fixed to the face part.
Of course there was no period spot-welding, which makes these masks modern made.
The hooks on the cheeks (odayorinokugi) are for fastening faceguard and helmet (kabuto) to the wearer's head.
What you see on the modern masks is basically a thick wire bent at a 90° angle. On period items these are made by forging, resulting in a more complex shape.
Always eager to learn! (*^-^)b
Some of my areas of interest:
My mengu collection, Study on a group of Kuroda armors, Study of Kaga armors
Some of my areas of interest:
My mengu collection, Study on a group of Kuroda armors, Study of Kaga armors
- John Wee Tom
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Re: Not the real Deal #2
Another easily identifiable telltale sign of a modern menpo is the nosepiece. In all of the above examples, the top edge of the nosepiece does not follow the curvature of the top edge of the cheeks.
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- Peter Frischknecht
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Re: Not the real Deal #2
Very good point John!
Always eager to learn! (*^-^)b
Some of my areas of interest:
My mengu collection, Study on a group of Kuroda armors, Study of Kaga armors
Some of my areas of interest:
My mengu collection, Study on a group of Kuroda armors, Study of Kaga armors
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- Neil Grigg
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- Piers Dowding
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Re: Not the real Deal #2
Great, Peter, very useful knowledge. Many thanks indeed! I guess they will continue to turn up and fill a blank. People will probably buy them at the low end of the market.
- Luc Taelman
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Re: Not the real Deal #2
Indeed Piers, and that is so sad because it is still a lot of money for most people.
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- Sylvain Landry
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Re: Not the real Deal #2
Thank you very much Peter and John for these ideas! Very useful!!!
I encourage everyone to continue writing on how to detect "modern" copies of samurai artifacts. Not only can this help prevent many of us spending a lot of money on fraudulent items, but it also helps us understand how these items were originally made.
Sylvain
I encourage everyone to continue writing on how to detect "modern" copies of samurai artifacts. Not only can this help prevent many of us spending a lot of money on fraudulent items, but it also helps us understand how these items were originally made.
Sylvain
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