An Osaka Wakizashi in Mounts

EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY), SIGNED INOUE SHINKAI AND DATED TENNA NINEN NIGATSU (1682.2) AND CHRYSANTHEMUM CREST

Details

An Osaka Wakizashi in Mounts
Edo period (17th century), signed Inoue Shinkai and dated Tenna ninen nigatsu (1682.2) and chrysanthemum crest
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-gissaki with shallow torii-zori curvature
Kitae [forging pattern]: ko-itame with hints of mokume in ji-nie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: narrow suguha with sunagashi and uchinoke
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru
Horimono [carving]: bo-hi on the omote and futasu-bi on the ura
Nakago [tang]: suriage, sujikai file marks with two holes
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 20¾in. (52.6cm.) Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 1¼in. (3.2cm.)
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 1 1/8in. (2.8cm.)
Habaki [collar]: two-piece; outer section silver carved with waves, inner section gold
In shirasaya [wood storage scabbard]

Koshirae [set of mounts]: comprising a black-lacquer saya and a tsuka wrapped in blue silk mounted with shakudo nanako-ji fuchi-gashira decorated with courtiers playing music in iroe taka-zogan, the gold menuki formed as dragons, the iron mokko tsuba carved with Shoki holding a battle standard by a waterfall while a demon observes, decorated in gold nunome
With Hozon token (Sword worthy of preserving) certificate no. 304073 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 1985.2.22 (2)

Lot Essay

At the time this sword was sent to the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai in Tokyo for shinsa and certification it was believed that this was the last sword that Shinkai was known to have made. The NBTHK sent a letter to the owner stating such. Since then, one later blade has been discovered, making this sword the smith's second-to-last blade.

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