Details
A KAGA WAKIZASHI
EDO PERIOD (EARLY 18TH CENTURY), SIGNED KASHU (NO) JU KANEWAKA, ATTRIBUTED TO KANEWAKA IV
Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 1 shaku, 7 sun, 7 bu (53.6 cm.); curvature (sori): torii-zori of 1.2 cm.; decrease in width of blade (fumbari): 1.0 cm.
Forging pattern (jihada): very tightly compacted wood grain (itame).
Tempering pattern (hamon): large and open clove patterns (o-choji) with some irregular outlines (midare), 'tadpole' choji (kawazuko choji) and some cantilevered outlines resembling kani no tsume midare, all executed in nioi and ko-nie.
Point (boshi): medium round (chu-maru) with medium turn-back.
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): tapering, slightly curved, ubu and with an even, moist, brown patrina; file marks (yasurime): sloping (sujikai); end (nakagojiri): ha-agari kuri-jiri; holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (mei), katana-mei: Kashu (no) ju Kanewaka. [Slight hit to the very point of the kissaki; a few superficial surface scratches.]
Wakizashi-koshirae comprising: a black-brown lacquer saya [some chips, cracks and lacquer loss]; an iron Mito Shoami style circular tsuba carved in raised relief with a shishi highlighted with gold nunome, the reverse with peony and rockwork, ryu-hitsu, unsigned, 18th Century; the black-wrapped tsuka fitted with a pair of Mino Goto style shakudo and gold menuki in the form of caparisoned horses and a pair of Hamano style shakudo fuchi-kashira applied in copper, gold and shakudo with birds perched on an ancient tree, unsigned, 19th Century; a pair of Goto style shakudo nanako kogai and kozuka with gilt backs and with plates applied in gold, shakudo and silver with cranes in flight past a large sun and crashing waves, unsigned, 19th Century---length of koshirae 74.3 cm., length of tsuka 16.5 cm., length of kogai 21.5 cm., length of kozuka 9.5 cm; height of tsuba 7.3 cm.
EDO PERIOD (EARLY 18TH CENTURY), SIGNED KASHU (NO) JU KANEWAKA, ATTRIBUTED TO KANEWAKA IV
Configuration (sugata): with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi-zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune) and medium point (chu-kissaki); length (nagasa): 1 shaku, 7 sun, 7 bu (53.6 cm.); curvature (sori): torii-zori of 1.2 cm.; decrease in width of blade (fumbari): 1.0 cm.
Forging pattern (jihada): very tightly compacted wood grain (itame).
Tempering pattern (hamon): large and open clove patterns (o-choji) with some irregular outlines (midare), 'tadpole' choji (kawazuko choji) and some cantilevered outlines resembling kani no tsume midare, all executed in nioi and ko-nie.
Point (boshi): medium round (chu-maru) with medium turn-back.
Tang (nakago) shape (keitai): tapering, slightly curved, ubu and with an even, moist, brown patrina; file marks (yasurime): sloping (sujikai); end (nakagojiri): ha-agari kuri-jiri; holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (mei), katana-mei: Kashu (no) ju Kanewaka. [Slight hit to the very point of the kissaki; a few superficial surface scratches.]
Wakizashi-koshirae comprising: a black-brown lacquer saya [some chips, cracks and lacquer loss]; an iron Mito Shoami style circular tsuba carved in raised relief with a shishi highlighted with gold nunome, the reverse with peony and rockwork, ryu-hitsu, unsigned, 18th Century; the black-wrapped tsuka fitted with a pair of Mino Goto style shakudo and gold menuki in the form of caparisoned horses and a pair of Hamano style shakudo fuchi-kashira applied in copper, gold and shakudo with birds perched on an ancient tree, unsigned, 19th Century; a pair of Goto style shakudo nanako kogai and kozuka with gilt backs and with plates applied in gold, shakudo and silver with cranes in flight past a large sun and crashing waves, unsigned, 19th Century---length of koshirae 74.3 cm., length of tsuka 16.5 cm., length of kogai 21.5 cm., length of kozuka 9.5 cm; height of tsuba 7.3 cm.