Lot Essay
Ryokai has been variously identified as the son of Rai Kunitoshi or of Aya no Koji Sadatoshi of Kyoto and was active around the end of the thirteenth century.
THE PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR
AN O-SURIAGE YAMASHIRO KATANA
KAMAKURA PERIOD (LATE 13TH-14TH CENTURY), UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO RYOKAI WITH GOLD INLAID INSCRIPTION BANZAI
Details
AN O-SURIAGE YAMASHIRO KATANA
KAMAKURA PERIOD (Late 13th-14th CENTURY), UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO RYOKAI WITH GOLD INLAID INSCRIPTION BANZAI
Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, even curve with slight fumbari and utsumuku upper part of blade, chu-gissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: Mokume with masame, jinie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Hoso-suguha of konie
Boshi [tip]: Komaru
Nakago [tang]: O-suriage, two mekugi-ana, kiri file marks, kiri-jiri, two gold-inlaid characters Banzai on katana omote
Nagasa [length of blade]: 68cm
Koshirae [mounting]: Black ishimeji lacquered tachi mounting, all metal fittings engraved with karakusa, iron aoi mokko-shape tsuba with four inome piercings, fuchi-kashira of iron migakiji with silver inlaid karakusa, menuki of carp among waves in yamagane with gold inlay
In shirasaya with a sayagaki by the polisher Hon'ami Nisshu in Showa 23 (1948) attributing the blade to Rai Kunitoshi around the Bunpo era (1317--19)
The blade accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Hozon token (Sword worthy of preservation) no. 346808 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated 1997.6.2
The mounting accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Hozon tosogu (Sword fittings worthy of preservation) no. 433887 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated 1997.6.20
KAMAKURA PERIOD (Late 13th-14th CENTURY), UNSIGNED, ATTRIBUTED TO RYOKAI WITH GOLD INLAID INSCRIPTION BANZAI
Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, even curve with slight fumbari and utsumuku upper part of blade, chu-gissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: Mokume with masame, jinie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Hoso-suguha of konie
Boshi [tip]: Komaru
Nakago [tang]: O-suriage, two mekugi-ana, kiri file marks, kiri-jiri, two gold-inlaid characters Banzai on katana omote
Nagasa [length of blade]: 68cm
Koshirae [mounting]: Black ishimeji lacquered tachi mounting, all metal fittings engraved with karakusa, iron aoi mokko-shape tsuba with four inome piercings, fuchi-kashira of iron migakiji with silver inlaid karakusa, menuki of carp among waves in yamagane with gold inlay
In shirasaya with a sayagaki by the polisher Hon'ami Nisshu in Showa 23 (1948) attributing the blade to Rai Kunitoshi around the Bunpo era (1317--19)
The blade accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Hozon token (Sword worthy of preservation) no. 346808 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated 1997.6.2
The mounting accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Hozon tosogu (Sword fittings worthy of preservation) no. 433887 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated 1997.6.20
Brought to you by
Emma Winder