A YAMASHIRO HORIKAWA TANTO AFTER MYOJU

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A YAMASHIRO HORIKAWA TANTO AFTER MYOJU
EDO PERIOD, BEARING A DATE OF KAN-EI 3 (1626), INSCRIBED YAMASHIRO (NO) KUNI NISHIJIN (NO) JU UMETADA MYOJU HORI DOSAKU

Configuration (sugata): inside (ura): kiriha-zukuri (the shinogi running parallel to the ha and continuing [without yokote] directly to the mune) and with extraordinarily wide shinogi; outside (omote): of flat, wedge section (hira-zukuri); tri-bevelled back (mitsu-mune); length (nagasa): 9 sun, 2 bu (27.8 cm.); carving (horimono): inside (ura): a dragon 'disputing' a pearl (tama-oi ryu); outside (omote): a suken within a katana-hi.
Forging pattern (jihada): fine and evenly-configured wood grain (itame).
Tempering pattern (hamon): narrow suguba in fine ko-nie and with some 'brushing' (hotsure) towards the boshi.
Point (boshi): small rounded (ko-maru).
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): regular and ubu, but not in Myoju style; file marks (yasurime): kiri-yasuri; end (nakagojiri): rounded (kuri-jiri); holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (katanamei): Yamashiro (no) Kuni Nishijin [jin incorrectly written] (no) ju Umetada Myoju hori dosaku; date (jidai): Kan-ei 3-nen 2-gatsu hi (a day in the 2nd month of Kan-ei 3 (1626).

Shirasaya.

Silk storage bag.

Lot Essay

Despite having a false signature (gimei), the blade itself is is expertly made and may be attributed to the Horikawa school and probably a student of Kunihiro. Rather than being the result of a faker who was unfamiliar with Myoju's signature, the obvious miswriting of jin in the signature would appear to be a 'clue' from the smith that he was not intending to deceive.

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