A Tanto

UNSIGNED, EARLY EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY)

Details

A Tanto
Unsigned, early Edo period (17th century)
Sugata [configuration]: hirazukuri, mitsumune, almost no curvature
Kitae [forging pattern]: itame with jinie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha of nie with wide nioiguchi
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru
Horimono [carving]: kurikara
Nakago [tang]: ubu, one hole, katte-sagari file marks, iriyamagata end
Habaki [collar]: gilt copper
In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] with inscription attributing this blade to the Umetada school
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 29.4cm.
Sori [curvature]: 0.1cm.
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 2.8cm.

Lot Essay

The unidentified sayagaki of this nice quality tanto of the early Edo period ascribes it to Umetada, presumably implying Myoju. However the style of the kurikara carving, the tang shape and particularly the deep katte-sagari file marks (Umetada file marks are usually kiri) are more in keeping with the Echizen school.

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