A SOSHU ICHIMONJI NAGINATA-NAOSHI KATANA

Details

A SOSHU ICHIMONJI NAGINATA-NAOSHI KATANA
KAMAKURA PERIOD (CIRCA 1250), WITH INLAID GOLD SIGNATURE, ICHIMONJI (ATTRIBUTED TO KAMAKURA ICHIMONJI SUKEZANE)

Configuration (sugata): converted naginata with shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and large point (o-kissaki); length (nagasa): 2 shaku, 3 sun, 3 bu (70.5cm.); curvature (sori): 2.0cm.; carving (horimono): hi on both sides.
Forging pattern (jihada): ko-itame with some mokume and midare utsuri.
Tempering pattern (hamon): wide Ichimonji midare in fine nioi with abundant 'legs' (ashi) and yo.
Point (boshi): uninterrupted continuation of the hamon.
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): regular and with the shinogi extending the full length; file marks (yasurime): new (kiri-yasuri); end (nakagojiri): squared (kirijiri); holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (kin-zogan tachimei): Ichimonji.

Shirasaya.

Accompanied by a juyo token certificate issued by the N.B.T.H.K., dated Showa 45 (1970).

Provenance

Lillard P. Miller, San Antonio, Texas

Literature

Juyo token to zufu, vol. 23.
One Hundred Masterpieces (1992), no. 5.

Lot Essay

The accompanying origami, one with the seal of the shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune (1716-1745) and one from the Iwakura household, follow the history of the blade's provenance as a gift from Tokugawa Yoshimune to the Sanada family of Shinchu to the Matsudaira family to the Emperor Meiji and finally to Prince Iwakura Totomi.

Prince Iwakura Totomi (1825-1883) was an important figure in the Meiji Restoration of 1868. He attempted to curb the rising influence of the Western powers by creating a working relationship between the shogunate and the imperial household. After the Restoration he was appointed Minister of the Right and upon his death fifteen years later he was given a full state funeral.