An Oshu Wakizashi

SIGNED OSHU AIZU JU NAGAKUNI, EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY)

Details

An Oshu Wakizashi
Signed Oshu Aizu ju Nagakuni, Edo period (17th century)
Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki, toriizori
Kitae [forging pattern]: ko-itame with jinie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: wide gunome midare of nie with ashi
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru
Horimono [carving]: bohi ni soehi on both sides
Nakago [tang]: ubu, two holes, katte-sagari file marks, kurijiri
Habaki [collar]: double, gilt copper
In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]
Koshirae [set of mounts]: comprising a black-lacquer saya with a black shakudo nanako fuchi-kashira with hawks in shakudo takazogan with gilt details, signed Omori Terunaga and with kao (cursive monogram); shakudo nanako kogai with a bird inlaid in silver takazogan; shakudo nanako kozuka with a gilt dragon; oval shakudo nanako tsuba chiseled with a grain pattern in low relief with gilt details, the rim gilt, 19th century, 70cm. long
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 48.2cm.
Sori [curvature]: 1cm.
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 3.1cm.
Sakihaba [width before tip] 3.1cm.

Lot Essay

Nagakuni was the son of Tsuneyoshi of Hiroshima in Aki Province, and had studied under Harima no Kami Teruhiro (see Christie's, London, Important Swords from the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, Part I, 10 November, 2004, lot 65). He was retained as a swordsmith by Kato Yoshiaki, the governor of Matsuyama Castle in Iyo, and joined Yoshiaki on Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 1592 expedition to Korea. When Yoshiaki was appointed to Aizu, Nagakuni went with him and worked there from 1627 until his death in 1631. From the inscription we know that this wakizashi dates from his days in Aizu, and it is therefore a sword made in his advanced years.

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