Description:
Japan, 17th century (blade); Edo period (1603 – 1868) (koshirae)
Blade
A magnificently crafted blade in shirasaya with a characterful o-kissaki! Shinogi tsukuri with mitsu mune, gunome-midare hamon with nie und in part sunagashi, distinct nokogiri on the kissaki. Nakago with two mekugi-ana, kiri jiri and mixed yarusime.
Includes expertise from the NBTHK from 2016, which attributes this blade to KANEMOTO 兼 元, who worked in Mino during the 17th century.
Koshirae
An iron sukashi tsuba with an abstract depiction of two rain dragons whose legs form the two hitsu-ana. Iron fuchi and kashira, decorated with gilt foliage. Both menuki show scaled dragons which presumably coil around the blade. Saya with elegantly gleaming kuro-urushi with smooth ribbing throughout. Brocade cover with gold and floral decorations.
Dimensions: 44,8 cm (nagasa), 69.5 CM (total length)
Condition: The blade in excellent condition with only very minor wear, recently polished. The koshirae is in very good condition, apart from a minor chip on the saya. The kozuka is missing.
Provenance: Hungarian private collection