Description A KO-WAKIZASHI IN UNUSUAL ‘EBI‘ KOSHIRAE
Japan, dated 1864, late Edo period (1615-1868)
The blade:
The curved blade with shinogi-zukuri and iori mune, the hamon with sanbonsugi, the hada is obscured. The nakago (tang) with one mekugi-ana, the yasurime is o-sujikai, the tip is rounded. One side shows the dating of Bunkyu, third year, eighth month ‘on a happy day’, corresponding to 1864, the other side is signed Ise kuni ... ju HIROMICHI saku.
The mounting:
The mounting is quite remarkable, the handle and scabbard are boldly ribbed and lacquered red, reminiscent of an ebi (lobster). The small oval tsuba with ryohitsu is finely and densely chased. The bronze fuchi and kashira are also finely chased, the two offset buttons on the handle with cherry blossoms. The kozuka shows a high relief with some gold nunome depicting a buffalo herd on a finely chased ground on one side and a rabbit and floral composition on the other. The unusually long kogai consists of two narrow parts, decorated with waves. The curved-in tip of the scabbard with a decorative element worked in copper.
NAGASA 34.8 cm, blade LENGTH 47.6 cm, total LENGTH 57 cm
Condition: The mounting is excellent condition with only very minor wear. The blade is heavily worn.
Provenance: Hungarian private collection.