An Awataguchi Tanto in Mounts

NANBOKUCHO PERIOD (14TH CENTURY), SIGNED KUNITSUNA

Details

An Awataguchi Tanto in Mounts
Nanbokucho period (14th century), signed Kunitsuna
Sugata [configuration]: hira-zukuri mitsu-mune with no curvature and a fairly wide mi-haba
Kitae [forging pattern]: ko-itame with chikei
Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha mixed with kuichigai-ba and copious ko-nie, sunagashi and kin-suji
Boshi [tip]: sukuha o-maru with turnback in nie
Nakago [tang]: ubu, saki kuri-jiri with katte-sagari file marks and two holes
Habaki [collar]: two-piece, gold foil
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 11in. (27.8cm.)

Aikuchi koshirae [set of mounts]: comprising a black-lacquer saya decorated with paulownia leaves and flowers in gold hiramaki-e and fitted with shakudo nanako-ji kozuka and kogai with paulownia in shakudo taka-bori, gold frames; tsuka mounted with shakudo nanako-ji circular menuki decorated with paulownia leaves and flowers in gold uttori, 19th century
With a certificate of registration designating this sword as the 31st Juyo token (Important sword) no. 7638 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 1984.10.18

Lot Essay

Toroku Sakon Kunitsuna was one of the six pupils of Kuniie of the Awataguchi-Yamashiro school. He, together with Bizen Saburo Kunimune and Ichimonji Sukezane are recognized as the founding smiths of the tradition at Kamakura . He is said to have made the sword known as 'Onimaru' for Hojo Tokiyori. This robust and dignified piece has been attributed to the work of a later generation active around the Kenmu (1334-1346) era.

More from Japanese & Korean Art

View All