Lot Essay
There are several varieties of Masatsune's signature. These maybe several different smiths.
For the tang of lot 389 please see the previous page.
AN EARLY BIZEN KATANA WITH HANDACHI KOSHIRAE
MEI: MASATSUNE, 11TH CENTURY
Details
AN EARLY BIZEN KATANA WITH HANDACHI KOSHIRAE
Mei: Masatsune, 11th Century
The blade honzukuri, iorimune with medium point, slight koshi-zori, tightly forged with itame with irregular gunome of excellent nie, sunagashi, kinsuji to both sides mostly to monouchi area, boshi obscure, tang ubu with three holes, 76.7cm.; encased in black textured lacquer saya lightly carved with fishnet pattern with horse hide wrapped tsuka over black lacquered same, iron fittings en suite and a Tembo iron tsuba with gomoku zogan decoration, 18th/19th Century
Mei: Masatsune, 11th Century
The blade honzukuri, iorimune with medium point, slight koshi-zori, tightly forged with itame with irregular gunome of excellent nie, sunagashi, kinsuji to both sides mostly to monouchi area, boshi obscure, tang ubu with three holes, 76.7cm.; encased in black textured lacquer saya lightly carved with fishnet pattern with horse hide wrapped tsuka over black lacquered same, iron fittings en suite and a Tembo iron tsuba with gomoku zogan decoration, 18th/19th Century