SWORDS
From the Collection of
The late DENYS E. BOWER
removed from Chiddingstone Castle
by order of the Trustees
A FINELY MOUNTED KATANA, the blade honzukuri, iorimune, chugissaki and torii-zori with bohi each side extending through the tang, mixed itame-mokume hada with a little shintetsu showing on omote, suguba-komidare hamon of nioi, midare-komi boshi and ubu nakago with one mekugi-ana, unsigned, probably late 16th century, 59.9cm. long; in black lacquer scabbard inlaid with small pieces of fishbone, with a gilt-rimmed shakudo-nanakoji kojiri decorated with gilt passion-flower and scrolling tendrils, shakudo-nanakoji kurikata with peony flowers and a gilt-framed kogai depicting two kirin in takazogan, the menuki formed as a dragon rising from thunderclouds to the peak of Mt Fuji, the gilt-rimmed fuchi-kashira with gilt dragons and shakudo clouds, the oval iron tsuba carved and pierced with dragons appearing from foaming waves
Details
A FINELY MOUNTED KATANA, the blade honzukuri, iorimune, chugissaki and torii-zori with bohi each side extending through the tang, mixed itame-mokume hada with a little shintetsu showing on omote, suguba-komidare hamon of nioi, midare-komi boshi and ubu nakago with one mekugi-ana, unsigned, probably late 16th century, 59.9cm. long; in black lacquer scabbard inlaid with small pieces of fishbone, with a gilt-rimmed shakudo-nanakoji kojiri decorated with gilt passion-flower and scrolling tendrils, shakudo-nanakoji kurikata with peony flowers and a gilt-framed kogai depicting two kirin in takazogan, the menuki formed as a dragon rising from thunderclouds to the peak of Mt Fuji, the gilt-rimmed fuchi-kashira with gilt dragons and shakudo clouds, the oval iron tsuba carved and pierced with dragons appearing from foaming waves