Very interesting, BJS! Hope to find this book by Katsu Kokichi and other books on this fascinating topic.
Scarves Ode to Parures de Samouraïs
- Thread starter Notorious Pink
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Glad everyone's enjoying my posts! I have more pictures to share but it's been a rough day cooped up indoors with a sick crankypants kiddo. Yowzas, we haven't gotten out of pjs all day. I wish I had some drowsy cold meds for him so he could go to sleep easy tonight (and also because I need a break, haha!)
Joannadyne, I
you to the max! If only there were an animated emoji featuring puppies, shooting stars, rainbows and lollipops trailing behind a unicorn to express it. You are one funny lady. I laughed, I cried, your visit to the museum has become part of me. And sorry to hear your little one is feeling punk. Sending get well wishes!
Samourai mum = always on call, at your service (But please don't tell your boy that..LOL)!
Thank you so much for the wonderful posts! I loved reading them! Hope your little one feels better soon (and that you don't get sick!).
As for your pictures....first of all, YOU always look wonderful, and honestly...I could hardly pay attention at all to the beautiful Samurais armor, because I was totally focused on your Absolutely Perfect Eyeliner. Yes, something is wrong with me, because to me that was the most compelling part of your pics....HOW do you do that??? [emoji1376][emoji1376][emoji1376]
Lastly...so I still only have the cw02 and the stunning, knock-me-off-my-feet cw08. Even though I love the 08, I keep wearing the 04 - every day!!! The 08 I still haven't worn yet. That was unexpected!
Loving my new scarf ring:
Alright then, the boy is safely ensconced in bed and I can resume our museum tour... Now where was I? Oh, yes, helmets! So here is the helmet I think is featured at the top of our scarf:
Or it could be an amalgam of several helmet elements. Here's a couple of shots of another:
Also, check out the pattern on the shoulder pad:
Here it is on the scarf!
Ach, but before I get into the fine details of the scarf and armor, let me back up and show you a few more full sets. They're quite impressive! (Although, I read that it is impossible to actually find a full set of armor because it was customary for bits and pieces of armor to be handed down from generation to generation, so that each Samurai's suit had parts that were made especially for him along with parts that were inherited.)
Remember the trio near the entrance? The middle one is for a little boy. It was customary to start training little boys as young as six. This made me sad, since my DS is seven and he's quite a sensitive little soul. I don't think he would have lasted very long in such brutal times. One placard says that Samurai men did not live very long lives - most died by age 40.
Here's a overall photo of the shoulder pad guy.
If you zoom in on the chestplate, he's got some elements that are on our scarf!
View attachment 3654035
Or it could be an amalgam of several helmet elements. Here's a couple of shots of another:
Also, check out the pattern on the shoulder pad:
Here it is on the scarf!
Ach, but before I get into the fine details of the scarf and armor, let me back up and show you a few more full sets. They're quite impressive! (Although, I read that it is impossible to actually find a full set of armor because it was customary for bits and pieces of armor to be handed down from generation to generation, so that each Samurai's suit had parts that were made especially for him along with parts that were inherited.)
Remember the trio near the entrance? The middle one is for a little boy. It was customary to start training little boys as young as six. This made me sad, since my DS is seven and he's quite a sensitive little soul. I don't think he would have lasted very long in such brutal times. One placard says that Samurai men did not live very long lives - most died by age 40.
Here's a overall photo of the shoulder pad guy.
If you zoom in on the chestplate, he's got some elements that are on our scarf!
View attachment 3654035
Attachments
The next full set reminds me of H. Can you guess why?
Look closer and you'll see the waist has a nice Kelly-esque turn lock. [emoji12]
Another detail:
This is the first corridor:
I wound the corner and wowsa! Check this out!
Need a selfie with this guy, broad face be damned!
There's a second horseman behind No.1:
Here's the back of his armor:
And a fuller view of the gallery:
Also, I think Darth Vader must have been part Samurai:
[Darth Vader reminds me of DS, which reminds me of a funny DS story, if you'll indulge me. [emoji5] It's proof that I don't Asian as much as I probably should ...
Last week, DS had a check up and the doctor said he's tall and thin, to which I replied, "Yep, he takes after his dad." (DH is Caucasian)
The day after, DS asks me, "So what part of me comes from you?"
I say, "Well, your face looks more Asian, like me."
He looks at me, shocked. "WHAT??? I'm Asian?! Why didn't anyone tell me?"
I crack up, and he says, "Wait, does that mean I'm from Arizona?"
Face palm.]
Look closer and you'll see the waist has a nice Kelly-esque turn lock. [emoji12]
Another detail:
This is the first corridor:
I wound the corner and wowsa! Check this out!
Need a selfie with this guy, broad face be damned!
There's a second horseman behind No.1:
Here's the back of his armor:
And a fuller view of the gallery:
Also, I think Darth Vader must have been part Samurai:
[Darth Vader reminds me of DS, which reminds me of a funny DS story, if you'll indulge me. [emoji5] It's proof that I don't Asian as much as I probably should ...
Last week, DS had a check up and the doctor said he's tall and thin, to which I replied, "Yep, he takes after his dad." (DH is Caucasian)
The day after, DS asks me, "So what part of me comes from you?"
I say, "Well, your face looks more Asian, like me."
He looks at me, shocked. "WHAT??? I'm Asian?! Why didn't anyone tell me?"
I crack up, and he says, "Wait, does that mean I'm from Arizona?"
Face palm.]
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OK, now we come to the details. Oh, wait! I forgot about Single Nipple Ring Man!
I have no clue why he only has one nipple ring. It was apparently NOT a suitable topic for a respectable placard.
Now on to the deets!
I have no clue why he only has one nipple ring. It was apparently NOT a suitable topic for a respectable placard.
Now on to the deets!
Thank you very much for all those interesting pics.
A few final images that didn't really fit anywhere else...
A few fancy-schmancy helmets that aren't featured on our scarf but are worth a look:
The delicate but strong chain work is acknowledged at the top of our scarf:
Top left corner on the glove shows the little insignias from our scarf:
Time to bid sayonara to the bold Samurai.
Thanks for letting me share so many photos!
A few fancy-schmancy helmets that aren't featured on our scarf but are worth a look:
The delicate but strong chain work is acknowledged at the top of our scarf:
Top left corner on the glove shows the little insignias from our scarf:
Time to bid sayonara to the bold Samurai.
Thanks for letting me share so many photos!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of these photos! It is so awesome to connect the details from the artifacts to the design details of this beautiful scarf.
Thanks, bjs, for your nice comments and great reading suggestion! I'll be sure to check it out. My friend who accompanied me is a big fan of Shogun by James Clavell and when I told her I had never read it but would, she said with the fervor of a tween Justin Bieber fan, "Oh my gosh, I am SO envious that you get to experience it for the first time! I'd do anything to rewind time so I could read it for the first time!" And then it was my turn to give her the sideways you-is-crazy look. [emoji23]
Oh Joannadyne, thank you, thank you, thank you! My scarves now have a depth which they would not have had had it not been for the wonderful photos and history you have given us. To have been able to see our pieces of art as real-life armour has been incredible. Hats off to Hermès too for being able to so fantastically translate what was truly ancient artwork as functional bodywear into modern artwork as (relatively) functional bodywear. It has been a real joy to waken up to part 2 of the story of your museum trip and it has quite made my Sunday morning. I am very grateful for the effort you have put into this, allowing those of us who could never get the chance to see the exhibition IRL. Thank you.
I hope your son feels perkier today. Loved your doctor story. The jewels that come out of kids' mouths are just priceless above all others!