A Bizen School Wakizashi
A Bizen School Wakizashi

SIGNED BISHU OSAFUNE NORIMITSU DO SUKEMITSU AND KOJIMA NITE SAKU AND DATED BUN'AN NINEN HACHIGATSU BI (1445.8)

細節
A Bizen School Wakizashi
Signed Bishu Osafune Norimitsu do Sukemitsu and Kojima nite saku and dated Bun'an ninen hachigatsu bi (1445.8)
The blade hirazukuri, chu-kissaki, sakizori, iori-mune forged with running itame and mixed mokume; the tempered edge gunome midare of ko-nie, kinsuji and utsuri, the tip midare boshi, ko-maru on omote, togari on ura; the tang with four holes (two plugged), machiokuri, katte-sagari with a single gilt-copper habaki
50.2cm. from tip to beginning of tempered edge; 1.4cm. curvature; 3cm. wide at start of tempered edge; 2.1cm. before tip
In shirasaya with inscription stating the blade was polished Meiji 22.12 (1889.12) by Hon'ami Choshiki

拍品專文

Muromachi-period Bizen work can be divided into three epochs. Oei (1394-1428) Bizen (see lot 24), Eikyo (1429-41) Bizen and the Eisho-Tensho (1504-21, and 1573-92) Bizen, also known as "Sue" (late) Bizen, based on the work of prominent smiths and general styles.

This sword is a joint work by two smiths representative of the Eikyo group: Norimitsu and Sukemitsu. The first Norimitsu is believed to have been a pupil of Nagamitsu during the Kamakura period, but the date on this blade identifies the smith as the fourth generation, known as Gorozaemon. The Sukemitsu is the first generation known as Rokurozaemon no jo, the son of Toshimitsu and father of Ukyo no jo Katsumitsu and Sakyo no shin Munemitsu (for a gassaku wakizashi by these brothers see Christie's, London, Important Swords from the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, 10 November, 2004, lot 26). The blade was made at Kojima in the southern part of Bizen on the Inland Sea, just four years after the Kakitsu War in which control of Bizen moved from the Akamatsu clan to the Yamana clan, and at which time it is believed that Norimitsu had worked for the Akamatsu.