Details
A BIZEN OSAFUNE STYLE KATANA
PROBABLY LATE MUROMACHI/MOMOYAMA PERIOD (SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY), INSCRIBED BIZEN (NO) KUNI OSAFUNE YOSAZAEMONJO SUKESADA SAKU
Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 2 shaku, 5 sun, 9 bu (70.3 cm.); curvature (sori): koshi-zori of 1.7 cm.; decrease in width of blade (fumbari): 1.0 cm.
Forging pattern (jihada): wood grain (itame) with extensive ji-nie.
Tempering pattern (hamon): small irregular patterns (ko-midare) with some clove patterns (choji) and 'swept sands' (sunagashi), mainly in the monouchi, executed in bright ko-nie and nie; scattered patches muneyaki.
Point (boshi): brushed (hakikake).
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): slender, tapering, ubu and with a dry, brown patina; end (nakagojiri): ha-agari kuri-jiri; holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (mei), inscribed (gimei); Bizen (no) Kuni Osafune Yosazaemonjo Sukesada saku; date (jidai): Eiroku 3-nen 2-gatsu hi (a day in the 2nd month of Eiroku 3 [1560]). [A few superficial rust stains and light scratches.]
Handachi koshirae comprising: a black ishime saya (some dents, scratches and cracks); iron tsuba molded with sages and a bullock amidst mountains, shakudo highlights, inscribed Somin, 18th Century; green-wrapped tsuka fitted with Goto style shakudo and gilt menuki of flowers, fruits and mice, Muromachi Period, 16th Century; Mino Goto style shakudo nanako kogai set with a gilt dragon, unsigned, 18th Century; all remaining Yanagawa style mounts (fuchi-kashira, koiguchi, uragawara, kurikata, kojiri) in shakudo nanako and set in shakudo and gilt with shishi and botan, unsigned, 18th Century---length of koshirae 100 cm., length of tsuka 26 cm., length of kogai 21 cm., height of tsuba 8 cm.
Silk brocade storage bag.
PROBABLY LATE MUROMACHI/MOMOYAMA PERIOD (SECOND HALF 16TH CENTURY), INSCRIBED BIZEN (NO) KUNI OSAFUNE YOSAZAEMONJO SUKESADA SAKU
Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 2 shaku, 5 sun, 9 bu (70.3 cm.); curvature (sori): koshi-zori of 1.7 cm.; decrease in width of blade (fumbari): 1.0 cm.
Forging pattern (jihada): wood grain (itame) with extensive ji-nie.
Tempering pattern (hamon): small irregular patterns (ko-midare) with some clove patterns (choji) and 'swept sands' (sunagashi), mainly in the monouchi, executed in bright ko-nie and nie; scattered patches muneyaki.
Point (boshi): brushed (hakikake).
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): slender, tapering, ubu and with a dry, brown patina; end (nakagojiri): ha-agari kuri-jiri; holes (mekugi-ana): one; signature (mei), inscribed (gimei); Bizen (no) Kuni Osafune Yosazaemonjo Sukesada saku; date (jidai): Eiroku 3-nen 2-gatsu hi (a day in the 2nd month of Eiroku 3 [1560]). [A few superficial rust stains and light scratches.]
Handachi koshirae comprising: a black ishime saya (some dents, scratches and cracks); iron tsuba molded with sages and a bullock amidst mountains, shakudo highlights, inscribed Somin, 18th Century; green-wrapped tsuka fitted with Goto style shakudo and gilt menuki of flowers, fruits and mice, Muromachi Period, 16th Century; Mino Goto style shakudo nanako kogai set with a gilt dragon, unsigned, 18th Century; all remaining Yanagawa style mounts (fuchi-kashira, koiguchi, uragawara, kurikata, kojiri) in shakudo nanako and set in shakudo and gilt with shishi and botan, unsigned, 18th Century---length of koshirae 100 cm., length of tsuka 26 cm., length of kogai 21 cm., height of tsuba 8 cm.
Silk brocade storage bag.