SIGNED SETTSU NO KAMI MINAMOTO NO TADAYUKI, EARLY EDO PERIOD (LATE 17TH CENTURY)

Details

A SHINTO WAKIZASHI [SHORT SWORD] MOUNTED AS A TACHI
Signed Settsu no kami Minamoto no Tadayuki, Early Edo Period (Late 17th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri [longitudinal ridge], chu-kissaki [medium point]; iori-mune [shallow peaked back]

Kitae [forging pattern]: koitame [fine wood grain] with rich bright jinie [hard metal granules over the surface of the blade]

Hamon [tempering pattern]: chu-suguha [straight line of medium width] with ko-nie [very small hard metal granules], fine sunagashi [thick lines of nie] and kinsuji [bright curved threadlike areas]

Boshi [tip]: sugu ni komaru [straight and then gently turned-back temper line]

Horimono [carvings]: Horimono [carvings]: a single marudome hi [groove with a semicircular end] on each side

Nakago [tang]: suriage [shortened] with sujikai yasurime [diagonal file marks], two mekugi-ana [holes for retaining pegs], kurijiri [rounded heel], signed towards the back of the blade Settsu no kami Minamoto no Tadayuki [Minamoto no Tadayuki, Guardian of Settsu province]

Fitted with a single gilt habaki [collar]

Shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] inscribed by Sato Kanzan

Gold nashiji ['pearskin' lacquer] itomaki no tachi koshirae [set of mounts] comprising: gold nashiji lacquer saya [scabbard] with omodaka-mon [water-plantain crests] in gold hiramaki-e [low relief lacquer] and gold foil, partially wrapped in leather stencilled with omodaka-mon; tsuka [hilt] covered in gold brocade and wrapped in purple silk forming a lozenge pattern; gilt menuki [hilt decorations] each formed as three conjoined omodaka-mon; shakudo nanako [copper-gold alloy worked with a granulated ground] kabutogane [fitting at the end of the hilt] and fuchi [hilt collar] applied with gilt omodaka-mon; the koikuchi [scabbard mouth], ashikanamono [cord fittings], and ishi-zuki [scabbard butt] similarly decorated; the tsuba [hand guard] of typical tachi-mokko form, also with similar decoration and fitted with a gold rim, diameter 3in. (7.6cm.), late Edo period
Overall length of blade: 28¾in. (73.1cm.)Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 22¾in. (57.8cm.)
Sori [curvature]: 5/8in. (1.6cm.)
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 1 1/8in. (2.8cm.)
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 13/16in. (2.1cm.)

Provenance

Formerly in the possession of the Mizuno family, lords of Matsumoto in Shinano province, who were appointed jodai [administrators] of Osaka Castle from 1652-4, 1658-9 and 1661-2; see Osaka-jo Tenshukaku, Osaka-jo yonhyakunen no rekishiten [Historical exhibition of four centuries of Osaka Castle] (Osaka, Osaka-jo Tenshukaku Tokubetsu Jigyo Iinkai, 1983)

Special notice

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

Lot Essay

The son of Tachibana no Tadayuki, Minamoto no Tadayuki worked during the Genroku period (1688- 1704) and was awarded the honorary title Settsu no kami. This unusually sober blade contrasts with the more flamboyant style seen in most of his other work.

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