A katana | Signed Gassan | Muromachi period, 14th - 15th century

Property from an Important Private Collection

A katana

Signed Gassan

Muromachi period, 14^th - 15^th century

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, deep tori-zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: in Gassan style with pronounced swirling ayasugi-hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha

Boshi [tip]: bright suguha with ko-ashi

Nakago [tang]: ubu, ha-agari kurijiri, two mekugi-ana with one filled in, signed

Habaki [collar]: single clad, copper-gilt

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: of later date, the black lacquer saya decorated in gold, silver and black hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with a ho-o bird and paulownia flowerhead, gilt shakudo-nanako fittings, the fuchi-kashira depicting Minamoto no Yoshitsune leaping over boats at the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the tsuba with carp carved in relief among waters and river weeds, signed Kikuchi Masakatsu and kao [cursive monogram], the menuki in the form of bows and arrows in quiver

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 71 cm., 28 in.

Sori [curvature]: 2 cm., ¾ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.9 cm., 1⅛ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 1016168 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 3 (2021).

The tsuba is illustrated back and front.