Live Auction 7050Japanese Art and Design
A Hojoji Katana
Lot 833

A Hojoji Katana

SIGNED TAJIMA NO KAMI HOJOJI TACHIBANA SADAKUNI, WITH CUTTING TEST INSCRIPTION IN GOLD INLAY, KANBUN 9-NEN 11-GATSU 27-HI [1669], WAKIGE MITSUDO SAIDAN SHIBASAKI DENZAEMON MASATSUGU(KAO), EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY)

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GBP 43,200

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A Hojoji Katana
Signed Tajima no kami Hojoji Tachibana Sadakuni, with cutting test inscription in gold inlay, Kanbun 9-nen 11-gatsu 27-hi [1669], wakige mitsudo saidan Shibasaki Denzaemon Masatsugu(kao), Edo Period (17th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi zukuri, iori mune, shallow curvature with chu-kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: itame with jinie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: shallow notare and gunome in suguha style with ashi, sunagashi, deep nioi and ko-nie Boshi [tip]: komaru
Nakago [tang]: ubu, pointed tang, sujikai file marks, one hole
In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 76.9cm.
Sori [curvature]: 1.3cm.
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 3.1cm.
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 1.9cm.

Specialist note

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as 23rd Juyo Token [Important Sword] no.5192, issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword] on 1 July 1975.

Hojoji school was the largest school in Edo in the Kanbun and Enpo era (1661-1681). Followed by the first generation of Masahiro, a sword by Sadakuni dated Manji 3 [1660] is thought to be his early work and the style of both smiths are very similar.