Is it original

[neil]

I usually hang around the reproductions as opposed to originals for reasons.

I saw a good example of a do maru at a really good price so I picked it up to study it but I want to know is it old or a reproduction (that way I know how to go about handling my study)










Looks kind of fakeish to me, but want to make sure...

[Dave Thatcher]

Looks real enough. Maybe parade armour late meiji jindai

[neil]

It was just the odoshi that threw me off. It just seemed really thick and corse.

[David M]

I didn't think it was suspicious, but I wonder: is that what UV does to blue silk odoshi? At least to the parts that were exposed. And it looks like the orange lacing has either not changed too much, or it has changed very evenly...

[chriss]

If I remember correctly, a lot of blue dyes seem to be fugitive. It looks like the fading and color retention sort of make sense. I don't know much, but it looks really cool to me! 



Chris

[ian]

Neil, There are a few good clues here. First note how the colour on either side and on the upper part of the side kusazuri are less faded - conclusion; the armour had kote and was left mounted for a long time. One sode is more faded than the other - conclusion; one side was positioned towards the light and wasn't moved for a long time. The blue has faded badly in places - conclusion; normally the blue would normally be indigo dyed, which is very stable. The fading here suggests it is another less stable dye suggesting it is Meiji or later.
Having said that, I love it - well done you have a treasure there.
Ian B

[neil]

I was suspicions when I saw the $600 starting bid and I was the only bidder. Makes one second guess what they were buying.