Lot Essay
Purportedly given by Toyotomi Hideyoshi to a member of the Gondo family in recognition for the assistance rendered in the building of Osaka Castle.
YAMASHIRO--AWATAGUCHI
A YAMASHIRO AWATAGUCHI TANTO
Details
A YAMASHIRO AWATAGUCHI TANTO
KAMAKURA PERIOD (CIRCA 1265), SIGNED YOSHIMITSU
Configuration (sugata): flat (hira-zukuri) with tri-bevelled back (mitsu-mune); length (nagasa): 7 sun, 9.5 bu (24.1cm.); curvature (sori): takenokozori.
Forging pattern (jihada): very strong ko-mokume and 'pear-skin' (nashiji).
Tempering pattern (hamon): thread suguba (ito-suguba) in ko-nie and nioi.
Point (boshi): small and rounded (ko-maru).
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): long (11.4cm.), tapering, unshortened (ubu) and with a drop in the back of the tang; file marks (yasurime): slanted (katte-sagari); end (nakagojiri): rounded 'V' (kurijiri); holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (mei): Yoshimitsu.
Shirasaya.
Fuemaki koshirae, the mounts Momoyama period (circa 1600), comprising: a flute-form (fuemaki) saya in vermillion with raised black bands and fitted with an ireko saya (inner sleeve) and mounted with a shakudo nanako kurikata and kojiri decorated with san-go-san kiri-mon and vine arabesques, matching kaeri and uragawara; a tsuka wrapped with black leather cords, mounted with a shakudo nanako fuchi-kashira decorated with san-go-san kiri mon on a gold lattice ground, and a pair of menuki decorated en suite to the other fittings; a hamadashi tsuba similarly decorated with san-go-san kiri-mon which overlap the edge and which alternate with three tantric buddhist ritual items; a shakudo wari-kogai engraved with cherry blossom and a shakudo kozuka ribbed in gilt and with a nanako butt, emblazoned with a kiri-mon; all mounts unsigned--length of koshirae 45.7cm.; length of tsuka 10.8cm.; tsuba height 4.8cm., width 3.8cm., thickness 8mm.; length of wari-kogai 14.3cm.; length of kozuka 7.8cm. Lacquer with slight chips and a short crack.
Black lacquer storage box emblazoned with a kiri mon. Wood storage box and silk and brocade bags.
KAMAKURA PERIOD (CIRCA 1265), SIGNED YOSHIMITSU
Configuration (sugata): flat (hira-zukuri) with tri-bevelled back (mitsu-mune); length (nagasa): 7 sun, 9.5 bu (24.1cm.); curvature (sori): takenokozori.
Forging pattern (jihada): very strong ko-mokume and 'pear-skin' (nashiji).
Tempering pattern (hamon): thread suguba (ito-suguba) in ko-nie and nioi.
Point (boshi): small and rounded (ko-maru).
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): long (11.4cm.), tapering, unshortened (ubu) and with a drop in the back of the tang; file marks (yasurime): slanted (katte-sagari); end (nakagojiri): rounded 'V' (kurijiri); holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (mei): Yoshimitsu.
Shirasaya.
Fuemaki koshirae, the mounts Momoyama period (circa 1600), comprising: a flute-form (fuemaki) saya in vermillion with raised black bands and fitted with an ireko saya (inner sleeve) and mounted with a shakudo nanako kurikata and kojiri decorated with san-go-san kiri-mon and vine arabesques, matching kaeri and uragawara; a tsuka wrapped with black leather cords, mounted with a shakudo nanako fuchi-kashira decorated with san-go-san kiri mon on a gold lattice ground, and a pair of menuki decorated en suite to the other fittings; a hamadashi tsuba similarly decorated with san-go-san kiri-mon which overlap the edge and which alternate with three tantric buddhist ritual items; a shakudo wari-kogai engraved with cherry blossom and a shakudo kozuka ribbed in gilt and with a nanako butt, emblazoned with a kiri-mon; all mounts unsigned--length of koshirae 45.7cm.; length of tsuka 10.8cm.; tsuba height 4.8cm., width 3.8cm., thickness 8mm.; length of wari-kogai 14.3cm.; length of kozuka 7.8cm. Lacquer with slight chips and a short crack.
Black lacquer storage box emblazoned with a kiri mon. Wood storage box and silk and brocade bags.
Literature