Details
A BIZEN OSAFUNE TANTO
MUROMACHI PERIOD, DATED TENMON 6 (1537), SIGNED BIZEN (NO) KUNI (NO) JU OSAFUNE SUKESADA WITH KOSHIRAE IN FULL SILVER MOUNTS
Configuration (sugata): of flat, wedge section (hira-zukuri) with shallow peaked back (iori-mune); length (nagasa): 6 sun, 7.2 bu (20.4 cm.); curvature (sori): slight drop in the back edge towards the point (uchizori); carving (horimono): inside (ura): goma-bashi; outside (omote): kaku-dome koshi-hi.
Forging pattern (jihada): very tightly compacted wood grain (itame).
Tempering pattern (hamon): irregular patterns (midare) in nioi and ko-nie.
Point (boshi): small point (ko-maru) with long turn-back of 9.5 cm.
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): Bizen, ubu and with a semi-moist, brown patina; file marks (yasurime): slanted (katte-sagari); end (nakagojiri): rounded (kuri-jiri); holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (mei): Bizen (no) Kuni (no) ju Osafune Sukesada; date (jidai): Tenmon 6-nen 2-gatsu hi (a day in the 2nd month of Tenmon 6 [1537]). [Very slight surface scratches; slight 'saddle' from polishing near the ha-machi.]
Tanto-koshirae comprising: a black lacquer saya decorated with fundame togidashi wisteria [some chips and cracks]. Brown leather-wrapped tsuka fitted with gilt double kiri menuki; all remaining mounts are engraved with katakiri flowering wisteria; kogai signed with a kao, fuchi signed Sadayasu.--length of koshirae 36.3 cm., length of tsuka 9.5 cm., length of kogai 15.1 cm., length of kozuka 8.4 cm.
Silk brocade storage bag
MUROMACHI PERIOD, DATED TENMON 6 (1537), SIGNED BIZEN (NO) KUNI (NO) JU OSAFUNE SUKESADA WITH KOSHIRAE IN FULL SILVER MOUNTS
Configuration (sugata): of flat, wedge section (hira-zukuri) with shallow peaked back (iori-mune); length (nagasa): 6 sun, 7.2 bu (20.4 cm.); curvature (sori): slight drop in the back edge towards the point (uchizori); carving (horimono): inside (ura): goma-bashi; outside (omote): kaku-dome koshi-hi.
Forging pattern (jihada): very tightly compacted wood grain (itame).
Tempering pattern (hamon): irregular patterns (midare) in nioi and ko-nie.
Point (boshi): small point (ko-maru) with long turn-back of 9.5 cm.
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): Bizen, ubu and with a semi-moist, brown patina; file marks (yasurime): slanted (katte-sagari); end (nakagojiri): rounded (kuri-jiri); holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (mei): Bizen (no) Kuni (no) ju Osafune Sukesada; date (jidai): Tenmon 6-nen 2-gatsu hi (a day in the 2nd month of Tenmon 6 [1537]). [Very slight surface scratches; slight 'saddle' from polishing near the ha-machi.]
Tanto-koshirae comprising: a black lacquer saya decorated with fundame togidashi wisteria [some chips and cracks]. Brown leather-wrapped tsuka fitted with gilt double kiri menuki; all remaining mounts are engraved with katakiri flowering wisteria; kogai signed with a kao, fuchi signed Sadayasu.--length of koshirae 36.3 cm., length of tsuka 9.5 cm., length of kogai 15.1 cm., length of kozuka 8.4 cm.
Silk brocade storage bag