A tanto | Signed Izumi no kami Kunisada | Edo period, 17th century | the koshirae | Meiji period, late 19th century

Property from an American Collection

A tanto

Signed Izumi no kami Kunisada

Edo period, 17^th century 

the koshirae 

Meiji period, late 19^th century

Sugata [configuration]: Hirazukuri, iori-mune, mu-zori

Kitae [forging pattern]: Tight itame-hada 

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Suguha in nioi

Boshi [tip]: Maru-boshi

Horimono [carvings]: Suken on the omote, futatsu-hi on the ura  

Nakago [tang]: Ubu, one mekugi-ana, ha-agari kurijiri, the omote signed Izumi no kami Kunisada, the ura inscribed Nyo fukujin (Benzaiten) 

Habaki [collar]: Gold single-clad 

Koshirae [mount]: The black lacquer saya [scabbard] decorated in iroe hiramaki-e on a black ground with a dragon, the silver mounts chased and engraved and inlaid in gold with plovers (chidori) above tempestuous waves, the tsuba with silver rope edge, gold menuki of Hotei and his treasure sack, the added kozuka signed Tanba no kami Yoshimichi, 44 cm., 17¼ in. long 

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 30.8 cm., 12⅛ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3 cm., 1¼ in.