REGISTERED AS A JUYO BIJUTSUHIN [IMPORTANT ART OBJECT] UNSIGNED, TRADITIONALLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE YOSHIOKA ICHIMONJI SCHOOL, KAMAKURA/NANBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY)

Details

A Bizen Katana
Registered as a Juyo Bijutsuhin [Important Art Object]
Unsigned, Traditionally Attributed to the Yoshioka Ichimonji School, Kamakura/Nanbokucho Period (14th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri [longitudinal ridge], ikubi-kissaki [small, slightly stubby point], iori-mune [shallow peaked back]

Kitae [forging pattern]: itame [wood grain] with midare-utsuri [reflections of the irregularities in the tempering pattern]

Hamon [tempering pattern]: choji-midare [irregular pattern of clove outline] of nioi [mist-like crystalline areas] with ashi [lines projecting into the hardened edge] and yo [detached crystalline areas in the hardened edge]

Boshi [tip]: ko-maru [gently turned-back temper line] with midare [irregular outline]

Horimono [carvings]: a single bohi [groove] on each side continuing down to the heel

Nakago [tang]: o-suriage [substantially shortened], sujikai-yasurime [diagonal file marks descending to the right], kiri-jiri [square-cut heel], two mekugi-ana [holes for retaining pegs], one plugged

Fitted with a two-tier gold habaki [collar]

Shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] with inscription by Hirai

Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 27 5/8in. (70.2cm.)
Sori [curvature]: 1 15/16in. (4.9cm.)

Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 1¼in. (3.2cm.)

Sakihaba [width before tip]: 7/8in. (2.3cm.)

Literature

Honma Junji and Hiroi Yuichi, Nihonto juyo bijutsuhin zenshu [A complete collection of Japanese swords registered as Important Art Objects] vol. 4 (Tokyo, 1985), cat. no. 496, (p. 180)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Further details

Prospective buyers of this Lot should be aware that as an 'Important Art Object' this Lot cannot, as matters presently stand, leave Japan. Successful buyers are themselves responsible for registering their acquisition of the Lot with the Cultural Agency of the Ministry of Education of the Japanese Government within 14 days of the date of the sale. This Lot is subject to Japanese consumption tax at 5 on the hammer price and is zero-rated for United Kingdom VAT.

Lot Essay

With original certificate of registration as a Juyo bijutsuhin [Important Art Object] dated 16 February 1937

The important Ichimonji (literally, 'the character ichi [one]') school flourished in Bizen Province from around 1200 until the fourteenth century, at first centred at Fukuoka and later at Yoshioka; the most famous of the Yoshioka smiths are Sukemitsu, Sukeyoshi, Sukeshige and Sukehide. As the name implies, all Ichimonji blades are signed with the character ichi, consisting of a simple horizontal stroke and meaning 'one', sometimes with the smith's individual name written underneath. The Ichimonji hamon [tempering pattern] became slightly more expressive in the later period, with extensive use of the irregular choji-midare pattern.

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