UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO NOBUKUNI, EARLY MUROMACHI PERIOD (15TH CENTURY)

Details

A Chikushu wakizashi
Unsigned, attributed to Nobukuni, Early Muromachi Period (15th century)
Blade hirazukuri, mitsumune, shallow curvature, forging pattern itame with jinie, tempered edge narrow komidare with suguha of nie, bo-utsuri, komaru boshi, carvings of bonji, kuwagata, rendai and umajirushi, tang o-suriage, one hole, double gilt copper habaki, nagasa 39.2cm., sori 0.4cm., motohaba 2.8cm., in shirasaya

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Lot Essay

The registration document records this tanto as the unsigned work of Nobukuni. The shape of the blade, the style of horimono, and the blade characteristics, are all typical of Nobukuni's work. A number of smiths signing Nobukuni are thought to have worked in the Yamashiro tradition in Kyoto during the fourteenth century, and among them at least one moved to Chikuzen around the Oei era. This blade is ascribed to the Nobukuni who worked in Tsukushi (Chikuzen and Chikugo Provinces), known as Shikibu Nobukuni, whose successors continued through the Muromachi Period, and whose name is found as the surname of a number of Edo Period smiths.

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