A BIZEN OSAFUNE TANTO

Details

A BIZEN OSAFUNE TANTO
MOMOYAMA PERIOD, DATED TENSHO 2 (1574), SIGNED BISHU OSAFUNE SUKESADA; SILVER MOUNTS BY FUNADA IKKIN

Configuration (sugata): of flat, wedge section (hira-zukuri) with shallow peaked back (iori-mune); length (nagasa): 7 sun, 7 bu (23.4cm.); curvature (sori): strong dropped back (uchizori).
Forging pattern (jihada): rough wood grain (itame).
Tempering pattern (hamon): medium suguba with some waves.
Point (boshi): elongated and pointed brush (hakikake).
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): Bizen and ubu; file marks (yasurime): slanted (katte-sagari); end (nakagojiri): rounded (kuri-jiri); holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (katanamei): Bishu Osafune Sukesada; date (jidai): Tensho 2-nen 8-gatsu hi (a day in the 8th month of Tensho 2 (1574)).

Shirasaya with attestation by Kasumi Toshio (Shunsui).

Aikuchi-koshirae comprising: a ribbed leather saya fitted in silver with a koiguchi, kurikata and o-kojiri delicately engraved with chrysanthemum and flowering plum, the kojiri signed Funada Ikkin with kao (1812-1863, student of Goto Ichijo). The ribbed silver tsuka is fitted with silver fuchi kashira similarly engraved, signed Ikkin with kao; silver kogai engraved in shishiaibori with orchids and bamboo, unsigned--length of koshirae 35.6cm.; length of tsuka 9.2cm.; length of kogai 14.8cm.

Provenance

Masakata Katayama, New York

Lot Essay

Funada Ikkin was born in Tsurugaoka in Dewa Province in 1812 and moved to Edo, first studying under Kumagai Yoshiki and later under Goto Ichijo.

The use of bamboo, chrysanthemum, orchid and plum as motifs is an allusion to the Four Gentlemen.

See Moslé nos. 402-407 for similar Ikkin mei and no. 1010 in the Georg Oeder Collection catalogue for a kozuka with similar engraving.

More from Japanese Swords & Sword Fittings from col Dr Walter Ames

View All