A daisho | The katana signed Yamato no kami Yasusada (Yasusada from Yamato Province) | Edo period, 17th century

A daisho

The katana signed Yamato no kami Yasusada (Yasusada from Yamato Province)

Edo period, 17^th century

The dai:

Sugata [configuration]: broad shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, almost muzori,

Kitae [forging pattern]: itame-hada, jinie and chikei

Hamon [tempering pattern]: large irregular gunome, bright nioi

Boshi [tip]: deep nioi with nie, hakikake effect above the ha, komaru boshi with narrow and moderately long kaeri

Nakago [tang]: machi-okuri nakago, two mekugi-ana、with gold inlay cutting test inscription Manji yo kanoto ushi nen uzuki nijuichi-nichi, Edo ni oite futatsu-do kiriotoshi Yamano Kaemon Nagahisa and kao [cursive monogram] (cut down two bodies by Yamano Ka’emon Nagahisa in Edo in the 4^th month 1661)

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the black lacquer saya mounted with a fuchi-kashira inlaid in gold with peonies

in daisho koshirae [sword mounts] signed Goto Mitsuyasu, the mokko-gata tsuba inlaid in gold with karashishi on a nanako ground

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 72.7 cm., 28⅝ in.

Sori [curvature]: 1.1 cm., ⅜ in.

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

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3 cm., 1⅛ in.

The sho:

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

Kitae [forging pattern]: dense itama-hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: beginning in suguha and gradually becoming choji-midare, some utsuri

Boshi [tip]: appears midare-komi

Horimono [carvings]: the omote with bonji above suken, the ura with elongated gomabashi above rendai [stylised lotus pedestal]

Nakago [tang]: two mekugi-ana

Habaki [collar]: single clad, silver on copper, chased and engraved,

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the black lacquer saya mounted with a kozuka depicting chrysanthemums inlaid in shakudo and gold on a nanako ground, the blade inscribed …Nobumitsu, the mokko-gata tsuba inlaid in gold with karashishi on a nanako ground

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 50.3 cm., 19⅞ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.1 cm., ⅞ in.

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

The dai accompanied by a certificate as Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho Token, [First Grade, Especially Important Sword], no. 21244 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 57 (1982).

The dai koshirae accompanied by a certificate as Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu [Sword Mount Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 228313 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 19 (2007). 

The lot is further accompanied with a black lacquered sword stand emblazoned in gold hiramaki-e with stylised chrysanthemum crest (kiku mon).