sounderites

Sold, thanks!

Beautiful silver inlay with gourds, leaves and vines -- $800 Edo period. They are signed, but the signature is too worn to read. A few spots of rust damage and missing inlay, but pretty good condition overall. Nice and heavy.

Sold off forum, thanks

Bump, $350

Price Drop -- $400

Late Edo period Jinbaori (battle coat worn over armor) — $500 Beautiful red wool with family kamon (I think Watanabe clan) on the back. Nice fasteners on the side lapels, but the center button is gone. Small fabric deterioration on the lower left lapel lining and some small holes in the wool here and there, but overall in nice condition

Good to know, thanks! I will try to get a better photo of the mei and look into it. Presumably I have the wrong smith

I'm an armor person so this is my first purchase of a real 'blade'. Wondering how I did?! It wasn't that expensive so please feel free to lay into it. I'm told blade is signed 'Mitsushige'. Bizen school. Google says that's Kamakura Period 1350s. 51.5cm blade. 241.4cm with pole. The blade appears to be in decent shape apart from one small spot that I assume is a rust dimple that was polished out-- is this a big deal? Very hard to photograph so I will post dealer photos and try to add some better ones myself later. Any info / opinions are appreciated! Thank you!

Thank you for your very detailed answer, Ian!

Thanks everyone!!

Hi, I just bought a red zunari. I've talked to a few experts and it seems polishing red urushi is difficult / impossible, but I've seen a few red kabuto with a distinctive shine. Does anyone know how it can be done? Maybe there is some old Japanese man out there who can do this?! Thanks!

Thanks for the insights! Restoration wise, I was thinking of oiling with a tiny amount of Ian Bottomley's special 50/50 linseed oil & turpentine formula, wiping off, then allowing it to dry for 3 days. How do we feel about having the silk professionally replaced-- acceptable like replacing odoshi or mortal sin?

Just got these from Japan. The plates are made to look like bamboo. Beautifully made sparrows at the elbows. Now quite sure what is on the hands-- a mon? A burning oil lamp? Maybe someone knows the symbolism there... Any thoughts on the symbolism, age, and maker would be much appreciated! Thank you

Thank you Uwe & Luc! Let me know if I can provide additional interior shots or anything helpful.

I tried the front plate, but it seemed no wider than any of the other plates. Not much room for a mei. Came w/ edo period Satake clan maedate if that is helpful, but probably not.

Looking at the back plate, I don't think I can see a mei. The $39 endoscope might not be high enough resolution though. Any other thoughts on how to tell what school this helmet is? Thanks!

Thanks for the input everyone! I've ordered an endoscope... will insert through the tehen and report back.

Nervous to cut through the Ukebari to look for a signature. Do we think this might be Saotome? Thanks!

Hi, I'm new to swords... can someone please tell me what this is? Trying to find out the age and what it would be used for.... It's a nice blade -- I think it's a Kogatana?-- hidden in a naturally formed stick with a beautiful buddha inside when you withdraw the blade. I think it would be meiji or late edo, used by a doctor for blood letting and medical care, but I have no idea. The stick is about 18 inches long, the blade is about 3 or 4 inches. It has inlayed lilies, which I think are silver as well as several green stones. I was hoping someone might be able to tell me what the inscriptions on the blade and on the stick say? Hopefully the name of the smith! Thank you