Live Auction 7316The Japanese Aesthetic
A MINO STYLE KATANA
Lot 251

A MINO STYLE KATANA

WITH SIGNATURE BISHU OSAFUNE NORIMITSU SAKU, AND WITH DATE OEI NINEN HACHIGATSU HI [A DAY IN THE EIGHTH MONTH 1396], MUROMACHI - EDO PERIOD (16TH -17TH CENTURY)

Closed7 November 2012

Price Realised

GBP 2,750

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A MINO STYLE KATANA
WITH SIGNATURE BISHU OSAFUNE NORIMITSU SAKU, AND WITH DATE OEI NINEN HACHIGATSU HI [A DAY IN THE EIGHTH MONTH 1396], MUROMACHI - EDO PERIOD (16TH -17TH CENTURY)
Sugata [configuration]: honzukuri, iori-mune, even curve, chu-kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: tight ko-itame, masame on the shinogi-ji
Hamon [tempering pattern]: gunome of nioi with ko-nie
Boshi [tip]: yakitsume with kaen
Nakago [tang]: apparently ubu, file marks indistinct, one mekugi-ana, spurious inscription, ha-agari kurijiri
Habaki [collar]: single gold-clad copper
Nagasa [length of blade]: 68.6cm.
Koshirae [mounting]: gunto koshirae, with silver mon applied to the kabutogane

Ron Gregory collection (For details of the collector see lot 249)

Specialist note

The length and curvature of this blade immediately suggest the early Edo period, while the gunome hamon and the masame on the shinogi indicate the Mino tradition. Mino style gunome is found on the work of a number of Edo period schools, like that of the group of smiths who emigrated from Mino to Echizen province, to which this sword might belong.