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    Sale 7115

    IMPORTANT SWORDS FROM THE MUSEUM OF JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS

    London

    |

    10 November 2004

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    • A Seishu Katana
    Lot 63

    A Seishu Katana

    SIGNED SEISHU KUWANAJU MURAMASA SAKU, MUROMACHI PERIOD (16TH CENTURY)

    Price realised

    GBP 26,290

    Estimate

    GBP 10,000 - GBP 15,000

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    A Seishu Katana
    Signed Seishu Kuwanaju Muramasa saku, Muromachi Period (16th Century)
    Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, mitsumune, shallow sakizori

    Kitae [forging pattern]: running itame

    Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha, nioi and ko-nie

    Boshi [tip]: ko-maru and notare with hakikake

    Horimono [carvings]: so-kurikara and bonji, stylized vajra

    Nakago [tang]: tanago, marumune, katte-sagari, three holes

    Habaki [collar]: double, gold

    In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

    Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 65.8cm.

    Sori [curvature]: 1.2cm.

    Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 3.2cm.

    Sakihaba [width before tip]: 2.3cm.

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    Lot Essay

    The work of Muramasa was considered inauspicious to the Tokugawa shogun's family, since swords by the smith were said to have been used several times in incidents during which members of the family were injured or killed.
    Although it has been slightly re-shaped, the tang is of the classic form used by Muramasa known as tanago-bara [bitterling fish belly]. The earliest recorded blade by Muramasa is dated to 1501, and there are dated blades believed to be by the second and third generations dating from between the 1530s to the 1570s. There are later swords signed with the name Muramasa, but their relationship is not clear. This sword is possibly by the third generation. The blade has a kirkomi kizu [sword cut mark] on the omote just below the yokote.

    Other information

    Special Notice


    VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium


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