Details
A SANUKI TACHI
HEIAN PERIOD (CIRCA 1150), SIGNED WITH CHRYSANTHEMUM CREST
Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 2 shaku, 4 sun (72.7cm); curvature (sori): koshi-zori of 1.5cm.; increase in width of blade (fumbari): 1.0cm.
Forging pattern (jihada): mokume.
Tempering pattern (hamon): delicate ko-choji midare in nioi and ko-nie.
Point (boshi): midare-komi with flame-brushed tip (hakikake) and no kaeri.
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): o-suriage; file marks (yasurime): squared (kirijiri); end (nakagojiri): rounded (kurijiri); holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (tachimei): Kiku with Kiku mon.
Shirasaya; interior of presentation box emblazoned with aoimon] and dated Kan-ei 7 (1630), 4th month, 21st day. Inscription states that Tokugawa Hidetaka presented this blade during a visit to the Sakurada Mansion of Shimazu Iehisa, the 18th daimyo of Satsuma.
Accompanied by an origami by Honnami Kojo, dated Genroku 9 (1696); an origami dated Kyoho 14 (1729) and signed by Nikaido Hachidaya, a retainer of the Shimazu household, repeating the statement on the storage box; a presentation slip stating "Sword made by Gotoba. It is a year's end present. Gift from the Shogun to Shimazu."; and a letter, dated Meiji 13 (1880), to Matsudaira Yasutomi stating that the sword would to be sent along as wished via the emperor's servant, Kondo.
