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There is a Masahide of the Nomura school, late Edo…

Seems to be an “attribution”?!

“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…