SIGNED NANBAN TETSU OITE BUSHU EDO ECHIZEN YASUTSUGU WITH AOI-CREST, EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY)

Details

An Edo Echizen Katana
Signed Nanban tetsu oite Bushu Edo Echizen Yasutsugu with aoi-crest, Edo Period (17th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: o-itame with jinie

Hamon [tempering pattern]: kogunome in suguha, sunagashi, ashi

Boshi [tip]: midare-komi, ko-maru with hakikake
Nakago [tang]: iriyamagata, sujikai, one hole

Habaki [collar]: double, gilt copper

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [set of mounts] comprising: black lacquer saya with green silk band on hilt, shakudo ishimeji fuchi-kashira decorated with fish in high relief, inscribed Yasuchika, gilt copper menuki of a group of clover, iron mokko shape tsuba with shakudo rim inscribed Sanada Tempo, 19th Century, 103cm.

Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 75.8cm.

Sori [curvature]: 1.5cm.

Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 3.2cm.

Sakihaba [width before tip]: 2cm.

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

The first Yasutsugu is said to have come from a family of sword-smiths in the village of Shimosaka in Omi Province, and was known as Shimosaka Ichizaemon. He moved to Echizen during the 1590s and entered into the service of Matsudaira Hideyasu, the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was later retained by both Ieyasu and Hidetada in Edo, receiving the character 'Yasu' of his name from Ieyasu, together with the privilege of carving the triple hollyhock leaf mon on his work. The first and second generations kept alternate residence in Edo and Echizen but from the third generation the family divided into Edo and Echizen branches. This sword is believed to be the work of the third generation in Edo.

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