A Bizen School Katana

SIGNED BISHU OSAFUNE YOSHIMITSU AND DATED KANSHO YONEN NI GATSU HI (1463.2), MUROMACHI PERIOD

Details

A Bizen School Katana
Signed Bishu Osafune Yoshimitsu and dated Kansho yonen ni gatsu hi (1463.2), Muromachi period
Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki, sakizori
Kitae [forging pattern]: very close ko-itame
Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru
Horimono [carvings]: bohi ni soehi, kakitosu
Nakago [tang]: three holes, machiokuri
Habaki [collar]: single, gilt copper
In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] inscribed Geishu Asano ke denrai
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 65 cm.
Sori [curvature]: 1.7 cm.
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 2.8 cm.
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 1.8 cm.

Provenance

By repute the Asano family of Aki Province

Exhibited

The Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, Tokyo, "Kaikan san-shunen kinen tokubetsu ten, meimon kinko Goto-ke no ishizue" (Exhibition commemorating the third anniversary of the museum's opening, important works from famous metalworker of the Goto family), 1997.9

Lot Essay

PUBLISHED:
The Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, ed., Kaikan san-shunen kinen tokubetsu ten, meimon kinko Goto-ke no ishizue (Exhibition commemorating the third anniversary of the museum's opening, important works from famous metalworkers of the Goto family), exh. cat. (Tokyo: Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, 1997), no. 21, p. 14

This blade is believed to be the work of Yoshimitsu II, known as Yuemon no jo, although there exist early works of the third generation dating from the 5th year of Kansho. The first generation is said to have been the brother of Morimitsu and to have belonged to the school of Kanemitsu.

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