MUMEI ATTRIBUTED TO UNJI OF THE UNRUI SCHOOL, KAMAKURA-NANBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY)

Details

A Bizen Katana
Mumei attributed to Unji of the Unrui school, Kamakura-Nanbokucho Period (14th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, iori mune, chu kissaki, deep curve with a slight lowering towards the kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: tight-packed oitame with chikei and pronounced utsuri
Hamon [tempering pattern]: predominantly suguha with some kochoji, copious ashi, sunagashi, and delicate kinsuji
Boshi [tip]: yakidome with a hint of komaru
Nakago [tang]: osuriage with ha-agari kurigata tip, one hole, sujigai file marks
Koshirae [set of mounts]: black lacquered scabbard with scrambled shapes on a polished layer standing out against a matt ground, the iron fuchi-kashira with butterflies and peonies in high relief with silver and gold inlay, menuki of shakudo insects with silver and gold inlaid details, the hilt bound with pale blue silk braid, silver tsuba with dragons among waves in shishiai-bori, the ura onaga-dori over waves carved in katakiri-bori
Habaki [collar]: single, silver, 19th-20th century
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 66.9cm.

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

Accompanied by a Juyo Token [Important Sword] certificate no.10790, issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword] at the 46th meeting on 5 October 2000.

Although considerably cut-down, this sword retains the unmistakable shape of the late Kamakura period. The formation of the hamon and the utsuri indicate the Unrui school, which is thought to have originated in Bizen province with smiths from Yamashiro during the late Kamakura period. Kumotsugu, or Unji, is considered to be among the earliest identifiable smiths of the school, which continued for three or so generations.

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