AN OSAKA INOUE WAKIZASHI

Details

AN OSAKA INOUE WAKIZASHI
EDO PERIOD, DATED ENPO 4 (1676), SIGNED KIKU-MON, INOUE SHINKAI

Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 1 shaku, 9 sun, 3 bu (58.5 cm.); curvature (sori): torii-zori of 1.2 cm.; decrease in width of blade (fumbari): 1.0 cm.; carving (horimono): kaki-nagashi bo-hi on both sides.
Forging pattern (jihada): fine wood grain (ko-itame) of good configuration with a strong undulating masame running above the hamon and with extensive ji-nie on both sides of the blade, being more frequent on the omote.
Tempering pattern (hamon): chu-suguba with some undulations (gonome) in nioi and ko-nie and with ara-nie running in patterns; the blade typically displays extensive ji-nie.
Point (boshi): medium round (chu-maru) with a slightly brushed tip (hakikake).
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): tapering, ubu and with a moist, brown patina; file marks (yasurime): sloping (sujikai); end (nakagojiri): ha-agari kuri-jiri; holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (mei), katana-mei: Kuku-mon, Inoue Shinkai; dated Enpo 4 (1676), 8th month. [A 2 cm. jiware just above the omote habuchi 25 cm. below the yokote.]

Wakizashi koshirae comprising: a brown lacquer saya; an iron Choshu-style tsuba molded and carved on both sides with chrysanthemums and foliage highlighted in gold and silver nunome and silver dots depicting dew, unsigned, early 19th century; a tan-wrapped tsuka set with a pair of silver and gilt menuki in the form of sankotsukaken (a ken with a grip in the form of a vajra); and a pair of iron fuchi-kashira molded in high relief with gold nunome dragonflies, unsigned, early 19th century.

Accompanied by a tokubetsu hozon token certificate, no. 101531, issued by the N.B.T.H.K., dated Showa 62 (1987).

Silk brocade storage bag.

Lot Essay

A Shinkai katana with the same mei and date was sold as lot 356 in Part I of the Walter Compton Collection, 31 March, 1992.

Shinkai (1630-1682), son of Kunisada I, was born in Osaka and worked as a retainer to the Ito family, daimyo of Obi in Hyuga, where he made swords which received high praise for their first-quality koto style and workmanship. In 1652, he received the honorary title of Izumi no Kami (Lord of Izumi), as had his father, and used the name Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kunisada until July 12th, 1672, when he changed his name to Inoue Shinkai, which he used until his death ten years later. In 1669 he developed a style of his own based on the works of Go Yoshihiro. He made broad, Soshu-inspired swords with shallow curvature, ko-itame forging and a wide hamon in dense nie.

Blades bearing the Inoue Izumi (no) Kami Kunisada signature appear yto date from Manji 4 (1661) until the time of his name change in 1672. Those blades on which the kiku bears a single punch in the center (rather than a crosshatch), appear to date from Kanbun 4 (1664).