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Henry Russell
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Posts: 8 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Sat 02 Apr, 2011 11:18 am
Unusual Mempo?
I was wondering if anyone had seen any unusual mempo styles? Apart from the usual snarl/grin and moustache, are there any outlandish/inhuman versions? Whilst the Kabuto itself is often strange in design to the extreme, mempo's seem rather standard. I'm having trouble finding examples online.
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Ruel A. Macaraeg
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Posts: 306
Sat 02 Apr, 2011 3:46 pm
Henry,

These Japanese masks are in the Stone Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Art. They're somen (full masks) rather than mempo (half masks), but are a bit different than the usual "snarl/grin/moustache" you mention.

http://www.forensicfashion.com/1702JapaneseSa...ksMMA.html

We should point out that they're all 18thc. -- during the peaceful Edo period.
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Eric S
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Posts: 805 Location: new orleans
Sun 03 Apr, 2011 4:26 pm
Re: Unusual Mempo?
Henry Russell wrote:
I was wondering if anyone had seen any unusual mempo styles? Apart from the usual snarl/grin and moustache, are there any outlandish/inhuman versions? Whilst the Kabuto itself is often strange in design to the extreme, mempo's seem rather standard. I'm having trouble finding examples online.
Gentlemen, I present you with......the monkey menpo!!!

http://www.japanesesword.de/?site=armor&i...9lh96bskj2
[ Linked Image ]
[ Linked Image ]
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Andrew Fox
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Posts: 50 Location: S.F. Bay Area
Sun 03 Apr, 2011 6:46 pm
That is quite possibly the most awesome piece of armor produced by anyone anywhere at any time in the history of the universe. ;)
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Ruel A. Macaraeg
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Posts: 306
Mon 04 Apr, 2011 5:59 am
The universe? http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&sou...l=&oq=
[ Linked Image ]

But seriously, I think the Monkey King mask is great! I have a particular liking for facial helmets. Here are some of my facials, whose kits are in various stages of completion:

http://www.forensicfashion.com/21GalloRomanCavalryHelmet.html
http://www.forensicfashion.com/1186PolovtsiCavalryArmor.html
http://www.forensicfashion.com/1242RusGuardArmor.html
http://www.forensicfashion.com/1487AztecWarriorCostume.html
http://www.forensicfashion.com/1571CrimeanGuardHelmet.html
http://www.forensicfashion.com/1802TlingitWarriorHelmet.html

Eric, let me message you this afternoon -- would like to chat about your Japanese stuff. :)
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Henry Russell
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Posts: 8 Location: Buckinghamshire, UK
Mon 04 Apr, 2011 9:26 am
Wow, cheers, the monkey mempo is definately interesting, especially since it saw use in battle. I am interested into why there weren't mrore of this style, seeing as coupled with a kiai it would add to the impressive visage of a samurai.
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Bennison N
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Posts: 416 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Mon 04 Apr, 2011 5:03 pm
Re: Unusual Mempo?
Eric S wrote:
Gentlemen, I present you with......the monkey menpo!!!

http://www.japanesesword.de/?site=armor&i...9lh96bskj2


Wow... I've dreamed of this moment for so long...

I've actually dreamed of getting a monkey armour since my early 20s... I asked around the net a couple of times, but nothing ever came of it. And now here's a historical example...
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Boris Bedrosov
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Posts: 700 Location: Bourgas, Bulgaria
Tue 05 Apr, 2011 10:15 am
Here is one somen representing tengu

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/japan_masks_1.html
(the bottom-most picture)

I surely know at very least two more menpo, which represent tengu also

* here:
http://www.artsofthesamurai.com/menpo/html/02%20karasu.htm

** and here (the first picture):
http://harciszerzi.hu/archives/2009/03/14/Nin...illaghegy/

I have seen a better quality picture of the last mask (which belongs to the collection of Metropolitan Museum), but I can't find it now in the Web.
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Timo Nieminen
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Posts: 1,504 Location: Brisbane, Australia
Tue 05 Apr, 2011 1:50 pm
Re: Unusual Mempo?
Eric S wrote:

[ Linked Image ]


This mask looks like it has a lens over the right eye. I've seen photos of 2 other masks with lenses (for both eyes).

I guess that these are corrective lenses (but it's possible they're just for protection and against dust or wind). Which leads to the question of what power are these lenses (i.e., what is the lens prescription for the wearer). Anybody seen anything about the optics of mask-lenses?

Aged commanders might want to be able to read written orders while armoured, so they might be reading glasses, but I'd expect correction for myopia.
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Mick Jarvis
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Posts: 78 Location: Australia
Tue 05 Apr, 2011 11:05 pm
Boris Petrov Bedrosov wrote:
Here is one somen representing tengu

http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/japan_masks_1.html
(the bottom-most picture)

I surely know at very least two more menpo, which represent tengu also

* here:
http://www.artsofthesamurai.com/menpo/html/02%20karasu.htm

** and here (the first picture):
http://harciszerzi.hu/archives/2009/03/14/Nin...illaghegy/

I have seen a better quality picture of the last mask (which belongs to the collection of Metropolitan Museum), but I can't find it now in the Web.


Mortiis masks! Awesome!!!

[ Linked Image ]
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