SIGNED ORIKAESHI-MEI UNSHO, KAMAKURA - NAMBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY)

Details

A Bizen School Katana
Signed Orikaeshi-Mei Unsho, Kamakura - Nambokucho Period (14th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, iori-mune, extended chu-kissaki, koshizori

Kitae [forging pattern]: itame with jinie

Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha with kochoji of nie, ashi, yo, midare-utsuri

Boshi [tip]: midare with short kaeri

Horimono [carvings]: bohi on both sides

Nakago [tang]: suriage

Habaki [collar]: single, copper-gilt, and additional habaki, double, gold

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]: with sayagaki by Honma Kunzan, requested by Mr. Aoyama

Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 69cm.

Sori [curvature]: 2.3cm.

Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 2.9cm.

Sakihaba [width before tip]: 2.2cm.

Provenance

Aoyama Kokichi

Literature

Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai, Token Bijutsu, English edition, vol. 36 (Spring 1988), p. 38

The Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, Shinshun Tokubetsu ten, Bizen Meito Ten (Tokyo, 1998), cat. no. 14, p. 27 and 28

Exhibited

The Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, Tokyo, Shinshun Tokubetsu Ten, Bizen Meito Ten [Special Exhibition in Early Spring, Masterpieces of Bizen Swords], January 1998

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

Lot Essay

Unsho and his son or brother Unji of the Unrui, or Ukai School, in Bizen Province are said to have come from Yamashiro. They made swords with kochojiba similar to Yamashiro work of the late Kamakura period (early 14th century), and also to contemporary work of the Aoe school of Bitchu Province. The saka gunome and saka-ashi on this blade together with the dan utsuri are reminiscent of both Aoe work and the swords of Motoshige of Osafune. A smith named Unju is believed to be the son of Unji. The school continued for three or more generations during the 14th century.

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