A KII WAKIZASHI | Christie's

A KII WAKIZASHI

细节

A KII WAKIZASHI
EARLY EDO PERIOD (CIRCA 1660), SIGNED KII [NO] KUNI MINAMOTO CHIYOHIRO

Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 1 shaku, 7 sun, 7 bu (53.7cm.); curvature (sori): strong torii-zori of 2.0cm.; increase in width of blade (fumbari): 0.9 cm.
Forging pattern (jihada): very compact itame with slight insinuations of mokume towards the ha-machi.
Tempering pattern (hamon): an extravagant display of notare komidare affecting the rambunctiousness of an Ichimonji hamon, beginning quietly, as it were, at the ha-machi, filling half of the ji, and becoming wider as it climbs into the monouchi. At this juncture, particularly on the omote, the hamon combines with a mass of fine hitatsura filling the area up to the shinogi-ji. Executed in ko-nie, the hamon is redolent with ashi, saka-ashi and yo, again, being most active in the monouchi.
Point (boshi): small and rounded (ko-maru).
Tang (nakago): shape (keitai): regular, tapering and unshortened (ubu); file marks (yasurime): kesho-yasuri; end (nakagojiri): iri-yamagata; holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (katanamei): Kii [no] Kuni Minamoto Chiyohiro.

Shirasaya.

拍品专文

This smith, obviously a sophisticated worker with this difficult hamon, cannot be precisely identified. In all probability he is the same smith as one working in Kaga at about this same time and whose signature was Kashu [no] ju Chiyohiro. Even though the authorship of this blade could not be identified positively, Dr. Compton was taken with the blade, writing, "A beautiful blade. To be kept in the collection someday to be studied in Japan---a superb work." In 1964 he asked John Yumoto to arrange for polishing by Nakashima and the work was completed in September of that year.