An Awataguchi Wakizashi

EDO PERIOD (18TH CENTURY), SIGNED AWATAGUCHI OMI (NO) KAMI TADATSUNA AND INSCRIBED HORIMONO DOSAKU (CARVING BY SAME) AND DATED JOKYO SANNEN HACHIGATSU HI (1686.8)

Details

An Awataguchi Wakizashi
Edo period (18th century), signed Awataguchi Omi (no) kami Tadatsuna and inscribed Horimono dosaku (Carving by same) and dated Jokyo sannen hachigatsu hi (1686.8)
Sugata [configuration]: hira-zukuri, iori-mune deep curvature
Kitae [forging pattern]: fine, tightly packed, bright itame of ji-nie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: wide o-notare similar to toranba of Sukehiro (see lot 347) in nie and nioi with ko-ashi, sunagashi and kinsuji
Horimono [carving]: deeply cut, scaly dragon chasing a flaming jewel on the omote and bo-hi between a bonji at the top and rendai at the base
Nakago [tang]: ubu with sujikai file marks and one hole
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 15¾in. (40cm.)
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 2½in. ( 6.3cm.)
Habaki [collar]: double, gold
In shirasya [wood storage scabbard]
With Tokubetsu hozon token (Sword especially worthy of preserving) certificate no. 100967 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 1986.2.28

Lot Essay

Asai Omi no kami Tadatsuna, a native of Himeji in Harima, migrated to Osaka. Among his pupils were Tadayuki, Nagatsuna, Munetsuna, Kanetsuna, Hirotsuna, and his son known as Ikkanshi Tadatsuna. The style of the school was mainly choji-midare, with the straight sloping Osaka-style yakidashi. In addition to the Ishido-style choji hamon Ikkanshi Tadatsuna is known for his Sukehiro-style hamon, as with this sword, and his skilful carving, especially of dragons.

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