Details
A BIZEN MOROHA TANTO
MOMOYAMA PERIOD, DATED 1585, SIGNED BIZEN [NO] KUNI [NO] JU OSAFUNE SHICHIROEMON [NO] JO SUKESADA SAKU
Configuration (sugata): moroha-zukuru; length (nagasa): 7 sun, 7 bu (23.5cm.).
Forging pattern (jihada): compact itame.
Tempering pattern (hamon): active midare with extensive 'swept sands' (sunagashi) in active nie and some clove-like patterns (choji).
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): unshortened (ubu); file marks (yasurime): sujikai; end (nakagojiri): rounded (kurijiri); holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (mei): Bizen [no] Kuni [no] ju Osafune Shichiroemon [no] jo Sukesada saku, dated Tensho 13 (1585), 8th month.
Shirasaya with attestation signed Kunzan (Homma Junji).
Kiyomasa-ko aikuchi-koshirae, by various artists, 20th century, comprising: a ajiro style saya (by Araki Sueki of Kumamoto) in basketweave and sabiagehiramaki-e with horn kurikata, koiguchi and fuchi, a kashira (by Yonemitsu Tabei, the Living National Treasure), of Sendai-style and carved in low relief with Karakusa scroll vine; a pair of silver, gold and shakudo menuki (by Miyata Nobuaki of Tokyo), in the form of tsukushi (horsetail ferns, Equisetum arvense); a silver cherry blossom mekugi (by Yonemitsu Tabei); a shakudo kozuka with gold-rubbed grooves in Ezo style (by Miyata Nobuaki); Hayashida Tsuneki and Hirai Masuyasu, both of Kumamoto, also worked on the koshirae.-- Length of koshirae 37.2cm.; length of tsuka 11cm.; length of kozuka 9 cm.
Brocade and cotton storage bag.
Accompanied by a tokubetsu kicho token certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 108898, dated Showa 41 (1966); and a koshu tokubetsu kicho token certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., no. 13420, dated Showa 52 (1977).
