Book Review: Tōsōgu machibori meihin shūsei by Shigeo Fukushi

Book Review: Tōsōgu machibori meihin shūsei by Shigeo FukushiTitle: Tōsōgu machibori meihin shūsei
Author: Shigeo Fukushi
Publisher: Inose Insatsu, 2005
Language: Japanese with some English
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 428 pages, 37 cm by 26.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Tōsōgu
ID: B0180

A fabulous book by Shigeo Fukushi about the kinkō tōsōgu artists, outside of the Gotō families. These Gotō families are covered in his companion volume Tōsōgu oiebori meihin shūsei (B0181). Limited to 700.

Book Review: Ko-ji hō-ten by V. F. Weber

Book Review: Ko-ji hō-ten by V. F. WeberTitle: Ko-ji hō-ten
Author: V. F. Weber
Publisher: Hacker Art Books, 1965
Language: French
Illustrations: Black and white pictures
Other: 511 pages, 39 cm by 30 cm, hardcover
Topics: Culture, History
ID: B0178

V.F. (Victor Frédéric) Weber published this monumental two volume ‘dictionary’ in 1923 with the subtitle “Dictionnaire a l’usage des amateurs et collectionneurs d’objets d’art Japonais et Chinois.“, so it covers both Japanese and Chinese art. This copy is a reprint from 1965.

The books where written with several other monumental encyclopedic works from that era in mind (as acknowledged by Weber in his introduction), among others: Legend in Japanese Art by Henri L. Joly (1908), and Dictionnaire D’Histoire Et De Geographie Du Japon by E. Papinot  (1899).

Not a book about Japanese armour, but a classic book to should be in a serious library on Japanese art and history.

Book Review: Daimyō Seigneurs de la guerre by Chantal Kozyreff (ed.)

Book Review: Daimyō Seigneurs de la guerre by Chantal Kozyreff (ed.)Title: Daimyō Seigneurs de la guerre
Author: Chantal Kozyreff
Publisher: Europalia Japan in Belgium 89, 1989
Language: French
Illustrations: Color pictures
Other: 87 pages, 30 cm by 23 cm, softcover
Topics: Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō
ID: B0177

Nice catalog from the big ‘Europalia 89″ exhibition that was held in Belgium. Contains mostly famous kawari kabuto. That exhibition was with full collaboration of the Japanese Armor Society, something they are still very proud of, and rightly so. Several high level members like Mr. Orikasa (Saotome specialist) and Mr. Miura (Armour maker) flew over and stayed for a while in order to set up the exhibition and do demonstrations. Not all items are illustrated in the catalog.

Book Review: Samurai Opere della Collezione Koelliker e delle Raccolte Extraeuropee del Castello Sforzesco by Giuseppe Piva

Book Review: Samurai Opere della Collezione Koelliker e delle Raccolte Extraeuropee del Castello Sforzesco by Giuseppe PivaTitle: Samurai Opere della Collezione Koelliker e delle Raccolte Extraeuropee del Castello Sforzesco
Author: Giuseppe Piva
Publisher: Mazzotta, 2009
ISBN: 978-88-202-1921-5
Language: Italian
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 143 pages, 30 cm by 24 cm, softcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Nihontō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0176

Very beautiful exhibition catalog round the Koelliker collection. The exhibition was curated by Giuseppe Piva and contains also articles from Francesco Civita and others. Impressive.

Book Review: Samurai by Chantal Kozyreff (ed.)

Book Review: Samurai by Chantal Kozyreff (ed.)Title: Samurai
Author: Chantal Kozyreff
Publisher: Gemeentekrediet van België, 1984
Language: Dutch
Illustrations: Color pictures and black and white pictures
Other: 181 pages, 30 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Nihontō, Sōmen, Teppō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0175

Very nice exhibition catalog from 1984 with many pieces in European collections (private – mainly L.J. Anderson and Bernard Le Dauphin – and public) in 1984, and two top pieces from Yasukuni Jinja in Japan. The black and white pictures are often on the dark side, the color ones are much better. Also a French edition exist.

Book Review: Kunst in Japan tijdens de Edo-periode 1603-1868 by Chantal Kozyreff

Book Review: Kunst in Japan tijdens de Edo-periode 1603-1868 by Chantal KozyreffTitle: Kunst in Japan tijdens de Edo-periode 1603-1868
Author: Chantal Kozyreff
Publisher: La Renaissance du Livre, 2003
ISBN: 2-8046-734-8
Language: Dutch
Illustrations: Color Pictures
Other: 189 pages, 28.5 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Abumi, Inrō, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Menpō, Netsuke, Nihontō, Paintings, Tōsōgu
ID: B0173

Nice exhibition catalog about the collection of the Musée du Cinquantenaire – Musées royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, Bruxelles, with besides armour also tōsōgu, paintings, netsuke, inrō, ukiyō-e,…

The catalog does also exist in French.

Book Review: Samurai – Japanse wapens and wapenrustingen by To-ken Club België v.z.w.

Book Review: Samurai – Japanse wapens and wapenrustingen by To-ken Club België v.z.w.Title: Samurai: Japanse wapens and wapenrustingen
Author: To-ken Club België v.z.w.
Publisher: To-ken Club België v.z.w., 1994
Language: Dutch and French
Illustrations: Black and white pictures
Other: 211 pages, 30 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Abumi, Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Tōsōgu
ID: B0172

Exhibition catalog from an exhibition held by the the Belgian To-ken Club, where I was a member many years ago. It was my first ‘organized exposure’ to armour, swords, tsuba etc.

It is a painful coincidence is that this review comes online almost exactly two weeks after the then ‘voorzitter’ from the society, Willem Dolphyn passed away. So Willem, thank you for my first baby armour steps!

Book Review: Arts of Asia May-June 1977 by W.H. Tilley

Book Review: Arts of Asia May-June 1977 by W.H. TilleyTitle: Arts of Asia May-June 1977
Author: W. H. Tilley
Publisher: Tuyet Nguyet, 1977
Language: English
Illustrations: Color and black and white pictures
Other: 104 pages, 30 cm by 23 cm, softcover
Topics: Inrō, Kabuto, Menpō, Netsuke, Sōmen, Tōsōgu
ID: B0171

This number of Arts of Asia contains an article on the history of Japanese armour, nothing ground breaking but nicely illustrated. The issue contains also interesting articles on inro, netsuke ukiyo-e and costumes of the noh theatre.

Book Review: L’Art Guerrier du Japon – Samouraï by L. J. Anderson, Bernard Le Dauphin

Book Review: L’Art Guerrier du Japon – Samouraï by L. J. Anderson, Bernard Le DauphinTitle: L'Art Guerrier du Japon: Samouraï
Author: Bernard Le Dauphin, L.J. Anderson
Publisher: ACTE EPAD, 1987
ISBN: 2-9501257-0-0 EPAD
Language: French
Illustrations: Color pictures and black and white pictures
Other: 117 pages, 30 cm by 21 cm, softcover
Topics: Abumi, Bagu, Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Kura, Sōmen, Tōsōgu
ID: B0170

Very nice catalog from an exhibition in 1987 with some amazing pieces in (then) European collections. Contains mainly pieces from the at that time big and famous collections of L.J. Anderson and Bernard Le Dauphin. The color pictures are gorgeous.

Book Review: Armes Japonaises dans les collections privées Françaises by Robert Burawoy

Book Review: Armes Japonaises dans les collections privées Françaises by Robert BurawoyTitle: Armes Japonaises dans les collections privées Françaises
Author: Robert Burawoy
Publisher: Galerie Robert Burawoy, 1977
Language: French
Illustrations: Color pictures and black and white pictures
Other: 80 pages, 30.5 cm by 21.5 cm, hardcover
Topics: Bugu, Kabuto, Katchū, Menpō, Nihontō, Sōmen, Tōsōgu
ID: B0169

This is a pioneering (exhibition) book from Robert Burawoy that shows the quality of the French collections already in the late 70’s. Some of these pieces are still in France, some have moved to other countries. A classic book. The hardcover is limited to 300, numbered and signed. There is also a softcover version.