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    Sale 7115

    IMPORTANT SWORDS FROM THE MUSEUM OF JAPANESE SWORD FITTINGS

    London

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    10 November 2004

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    • A Soshu Tanto
    Lot 5

    A Soshu Tanto

    SIGNED NORISHIGE, LATE KAMAKURA PERIOD (14TH CENTURY)

    Price realised

    GBP 35,850

    Estimate

    GBP 10,000 - GBP 15,000

    Follow lot

    A Soshu Tanto
    Signed Norishige, Late Kamakura Period (14th Century)
    Sugata [configuration]: hirazukuri, mitsumune

    Kitae [forging pattern]: o-itame covered with jinie and in various formations (matsukawa hada)

    Hamon [tempering pattern]: narrow ko-midare of nie, kinsuji chikei

    Boshi [tip]: ko-maru with some hakikake on ura

    Horimono [carvings]: bonji on both side

    Nakago [tang]: ubu, four holes, heavily curved

    In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

    Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 24.8cm.

    Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 2.5cm.

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    Literature and exhibited

    Literature

    Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai, Token Bijutsu, English edition, vol. 34 (Autumn 1987), p. 14 and 19, no. 5


    Lot Essay

    Etchu Norishige is believed to have been a contemporary of Masamune and a fellow pupil of Shintogo Kunimitsu. This blade has all the characteristics of Norishige's work, with a large itame and mokume hada, with thick lines of jinie known as matsukawa hada [pine bark], and one of his two main styles of signature. The Sanskrit characters on each side of the blade represent the main Buddha of the Shingon sect, Dainichi Nyorai, and the most important of the Go Dai Myo-O [the 'Five Kings of Light'], Fudo-Myo-O.

    Other information

    Special Notice

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


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