AN O-SURIAGE YAMATO KATANA

KAMAKURA PERIOD (13TH-14TH CENTURY), UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO TAIMA SCHOOL

Details

AN O-SURIAGE YAMATO KATANA
KAMAKURA PERIOD (13TH-14TH CENTURY), UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO TAIMA SCHOOL
Sugata [configuration]: Broad shinogi-zukuri, high shinogi, wide shinogi-ji, shallow curve, extended chu-kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: Itame with flowing hada close to the edge, much ji-nie and chikei
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Suguha of clear nioi-guchi, with ashi, yo, sunagashi, hotsure and uchi noke, kui-chigai forms with nijuba and much ko-nie
Boshi [tip]: Straight with kaen form of hakikake rather deep return
Nakago [tang]: O-suriage, katte-sagari file marks, four mekugi-ana of which two plugged kuri-jiri
Habaki [collar]: double gilt copper
Nagasa [length of blade]: 70.4cm

The blade accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Juyo token (Important sword) no. 9726 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated 1995.11.10

Literature

Daijuyonkai juyo token to shin shitei ten (Fourteenth exhibition of important and newly registered swords) (Tokyo: Japanese Sword Museum, 1995), no. 6.

Exhibited

Japanese Sword Museum, Tokyo, "Daijuyonkai juyo token to shin shitei ten," 1995.11.21--12.10

Brought to you by

Emma Winder

ewinder@christies.com 212-636-2167

Lot Essay

The Taima (or Taema) were one of the five schools of the Yamato tradition which flourished during the Kamakura and into the Nanbokucho period in association with the great temples of Nara. Yamato swords are characterized by their high shinogi and broad shinogi-ji, as seen here, and many are of suguha hamon. Taima-school hamon are generally more vigorous than other Yamato work, with violent nie and vivid kinsuji reminiscent of later Soshu swords. This is one such, and a superior work of the school.

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