Viper6924

I can only agree with Anthony. This was a truely great exhibition. Well worth a visit. The armors and kabutos was top notch. The security...not so much If I can take pictures of paintings done by Rembrandt in Amsterdam, it should be ok to snap a few at a samuraiexhibition. The only problem now is that I must start planning for a visit to the Stibbert in Italy. But on the other hand, that´s not much of a problem :D /Jan

Thanks Malcom and Ian for Your help. It´s def a mitsu kanawa. You can order some nice t-shirts with this mon I did a quick search on the Wada. Seems to have been an old family dating back to the Kamakura. Getting a bit further in samuraihistory I found an Oda retainer by the name of Wada Koremasa 1536-71. Wada had control over Takatsuki castle. But, I haven´t been able to find any crest similar to the one on the jingasa. Perhaps this is a bit over my head Jan

Dear Gents! I seem to spend half my free time looking up different mon/crests. This one is placed on a ashigaru jingasa made from nerigawa. Pretty sure I´ve seen this one before, but for the life of me I can´t find it in any of my books or online Clear and simple...HELP!!!! Thanks! Jan

Well, I can safely say that I had my daily dose of tanegashima stimulation. Great pictures. Looks like a very nice collection. I have a bit further to go with my own collection I especially like the fat stocky teppo with the ramrod thick like a drumstick. Thanks again for taking the time with the pictures! Jan

and I´m sure there will be pictures later from this teppo-section? Please... :D Jan

Thank You very much Morita-san. Well, Ninsei being one of "the three great masters" (I Googled) I think I will tell my friend that this is a "gimei" I´m more into Japanese hitory, so the attribution to Ii Naosuke is more intresting. But I guess the chance of that being true is slim to none. I think I recall an earlier thread on this board reagarding a teppo attributed to Ii Naosuke. Apparantly his things fell out of appreciation after the purge. The text looks old, EDO Perhaps the box is genuin and the content is, well a gimei? If true I can ask him to buy it and I will nick the box... Thanks again! Jan

Hi! A friend who is into ceramics asked me to help him with a translation of text for a bowl. I guess EDO-period :lol: Thanks! Jan

I was watching a fierce auctionwar between buyers who really wanted some samuraiflags. The war is now over So I just wanted to ask how this flag was used? It´s rather small if You compare it to the pack of smokes. Supposed to be from the boshin-wars. They had two up for sale. /Jan

Hi! I have had problems getting into my Private messages the whole day today Only me or someone else to? /Jan

Thanks for the effort, Piers! Just the words: "You may be right", warms my cold scandinavian heart /Jan

Good job, Malcom! It´s def close. But thats just it with jingasas, never a clear match I still think this might be a sign for a specific teppo-unit within a larger group of ashigarus. I have seen 4-5 "mon" during my studies that I can´t place within the familiecrest group. I place all my hope in Piers hands... :D Thanks! Jan

Beware of the Åkersberg-clan!!! They take Your head clean off :lol: Perhaps this is a groupsign instead of a familie crest. Come across a few of those when I been looking at ashigaru-helmets. Jan

Hi! I always love to play detective when it comes to unusual mon. The one I have the hardest time to solve is often ashigaru jingasas. It´s an absolute jungle sometimes. Here we have what I hink is a teppo-ashigaru iron jingasa with a mon that I cant find anywhere. Any clue would be fantastic. Thanks! Jan

Thanks a lot, Ian!!! Jan

Hi! Quick question to the Japanese reading members of this board. What does this little sign under the hinawa say? Thanks in advance! Jan

I´m pretty sure that You are right about Your suggestion that this could be European/American, Ron. Or copied in Japan. I was most surprised to find info about this "Iron-shot teppo". From description a very solid and respectful "trenchcleaner". Jan

I´ve read somewhere about short teppos (60-80cm) used for close quarter combat, loaded with ironshots. Very much like our shotguns. The caliber was between 3-7 monme. The ironshots themselfs around 5-7 mm. They found teppos with their original load still present. Containing a handful of these ironshots. Perhaps this European/American loader could have been used for that kind of service? Just trying to find a reason why this device should have ended up in Japanese hands. I find the size of the mouth a bit to big for normal shotguns pellets. It´s about a centimeter in diameter. Or perhaps I´m way off....again :D Jan

Thanks for Your input, Ron! I will def not protest Your conclusion. It´s bought from a dealer in Japan. But I´m sure it could have gotten there from an american/european sailor during the 19th century. Def made for some serious buckshots. Perhaps a piece of eastern barbarian hardware Jan

Following up the tama-thread; I have here a rather odd looking tama-ire from my collection. About 25 cm long. It´s the apparatus dispensing the tama that I think is a bit unusual. Have seen a few tama-ire with "crows beak" openings. But none with three levers. The front one is missing. It´s quite a genius design. And still works. Measuring the mouth I think this one is made for 2-3 monme tama. /Jan

Thanks, Ian! Can´t win em all. Goes from section "EDO-period nicknacks" to " youthful optimism" Jan

Hi guys! This thread was inspired by Anthonys thread about his new armour. Under the section "nicknacks" this single kyubi no ita, which I had for many years, pops up. Three things always interested me. 1. Age of course. I guess EDO-period always works. But any opinion to a more precise date? 2. The crosslike decoration. Is this a common design? I def get some catholic vibes. Which if true ads something something. 3. The "inscription" which after reading Ian´s reply on Anthonys thread, would be a licence date for the leather. Correct? I guess this piece would have looked really nice from the beginning. Almost all of the gold decoration is gone. It´s actually a pretty heavy piece. /Jan

Very nice indeed, Anthony! Looking forward seeing it in person on of these days Jan

Thanks, Ian and Piers! My knowledge of flat jingasa in rather limited. But I´m learning I read that the use of gold on the inside of jingasas was regulated by Tokugawa-law so it was only allowed for daimyo and hatamoto. Also that the top peg (don´t know the clinical term) was copied from older kabutos as a way for high ranking samurais to stand out when wearing these flattops. And You had to ride very slowly on your horse while wearing it... /Jan

Hi guys! Here´s the first flat jingasa that entered my collection. If I´m not completely off, it´s made from tin. I remember reading somewhere that they came into use in the latter part of the EDO-period. Used by higher ranking samurais on there many trips to and from EDO as part of the sankin kotai-agreement. It has a nice burgundy base on the outside. And red mixed with goldflakes on the inside. That´s about what I know. Haven´t seen one "in hand" before. Perhaps some of this forums heavyweights have some further intel on this fruitplate /Jan

Had to Google that one But You are right again, Malcom! /Jan