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“正秀” (Masahide)?… first glance and only a gut feeling….

To get the ball rolling… Left column might be: “小河原維徳應需造之” (Ogasawara Masanori* ouju kore o tsukuru). Not sure about the reading of the name and the phrase “ouju”, but it means that this guy made it on demand, I guess. (* several readings possible) Let’s hear what others thinking! Addendum for the right column: ”比総蘓毎里長” as a suggestion…

Angus, it seems that the yoroi bitsu (storage box) suggests a date and that an Iwai craftsman was involved... In case of the date the first two kanji are strangely written. If pushed I would go for: “安政七申年三吉祥” (third month seventh year Ansei = 1860) Left side is hard to read for me, but could be: ”岩井ロ助” (Iwai ? suke) Maybe I’m totally off so no warranty for both guesses! However, I don’t know if it’s helpful at all, because we can’t be sure that the bitsu belongs to the armor…

Not necessarily, Russ!

Well back to the armor! I think we are talking about a "Tetsu sabiji nimai-dô gusoku" (russet iron two part-cuirass armor - simplifiyed naming!) with nunome-zogan adornment, might dating back to the latter half of the Edo period. The helmet is a so called "Hoshi-kabuto" (or Koboshi-kabuto)* of rather good quality. Unfortunately the provided pictures don't tell much about the whole. What I can say is that kote (sleeves) and suneate (shin guards) comming from a matching set, but it seems the haidate (apron) is missing. This is also true for the dô (cuirass) and the kabuto (helmet)*. In case of the Jingasa (bajo-jingasa = riding hat) and the ogi (fan), however, we can't be sure... Note, the dô is insofar interesting, that it was made to look like a rokumai-dô (six part cuirass)! A word about the mon (coat of arms) that makes the helmet and the cuirass "matching". The example below is very close and probably related at least to 3 families, namely: 島村氏, 河村氏 and 茅野氏. The names have several readings so I won't go deeper for the time being... * The helmet might be older. It would be nice to have some more pictures (front-, side-, back- and top-view) as also some shots from inside, if the liner (ukebari) allows it?!

Hi John, heard nothing from him since about a year or so...

Welcome Angus! Starting with the obvious: Sword is signed "固山備前介宗次作之" (Koyama Bizen no Suke Munetsugu kore o saku) Dated "弘化三年正 月日" = 1846 Tsuba is signed "越前住 記内作" (Echizen Jû Kinai saku). Several artists early to late Edo-period... Rather nice koshirae (mounting)! Mask (menpô) is signed "吉久" (Yoshihisa). Most likely a mid/late Myôchin school artist... I will come back later about the armor itself!

Thats what I was refering to, Kantaro!

No worries, Bruce. Sometimes it’s frustrating to me as well. But we are lucky to have very knowledgeable guys around 🙂

正楽 used this kind of “Masa/Shou” character!

Indeed, Bruce “和泉守兼定” (Izumi no Kami Kanesada)!

銘 “兼氏作” (mei - Kaneuji saku)

Then it should be “由清” as Piers suggested. Haven’t checked the writing above so I focused mistakenly on a tester…

Another reading is “Shirakiyo”, but I would stay with “Hakusei”…

From page 275 onwards, Bruce

“白清” seems right, Thomas! A quick look in Markus book brought up nothing, though…

Guess not Fundo...but Piers seems close with the stars?! This is what I could find after a quick search: It is related to the "稲田" (Inada*) or "船木" (Funaki/ Funagi) family regarding my book. * Other readings are Inata, Inaba, Ineta, Ineda or also Mori...

Bearly visible 😏

I can’t make it out…🤔 Please show a picture of the hooks (orekugi) on the cheeks! BTW, the nosepiece (hana) looks different than the mask itself💡 Just saw your new pictures….replica, IMHO!

Hi Jason, I’m afraid I’ve to agree with most of the above said. What I think, based on the few pics you provided, that it is a 20th century copy (at best). Furthermore I assume the “decoration” at the fukigaeshi (the coiled dragon) is not a mon, but merely an adornment….sry!

I never had the chance to meet him personally, but always admired his craft! A truly artist passed…RIP Ford!

There is indeed a problem with the preservation of some objects…😏 Otherwise a stunning collection!

That’s a problem, Hamish! I know only one publication dealing with Jingasa. Unfortunately, I don’t have it… From time to time some info pops up from different sources, but reliable…who knows…

Last part of the signature is probably not visible. What one can see might read “龍英之口” (first two - Ryūei or Tatsuhide). But I’m not sure!

I think there are no bells at the mon in question, Piers 🤔