A Katana | Signed Noshu ju Morihiro | Muromachi period, 15th century

Property from a Private Collector

A Katana

Signed Noshu ju Morihiro

Muromachi period, 15^th century

Sugata [configuration]: Shobu-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-zori, bohi to both sides and with two koshi-hi, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Itame-hada with some ji-nie

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Sugaha in nioi-deki, with sunagashi

Boshi [tip]: The boshi is wide, with kaeri

Nakago [tang]: Suriage, three mekugi-ana, signed Noshu ju Morihiro (Morihiro from Mino Province)

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt clad 

Koshirae [mount]: The koshirae of ribbed black lacquer, shakudo kojiri, the fuchi-kashira with wood sorrel crests (katabami mon) amongst scrolling foliage and horse tack in shakudo on a fine nanako ground, the silver menuki in the form of spiny lobsters (ise ebi), the tsuka with black ito, the round copper tsuba decorated with a horse on a plain, a branch of cherry overhanging, the reverse with a tall cherry blossom tree and grasses, signed Shomin saku (made by Shomin)

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 69.4 cm., 27¼ in. 

Sori [curvature]: 1.8 cm., ¾ in. 

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.2 cm., ⅞ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3.1 cm., 1¼ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Hozon Token [Sword Worthy of Preservation], no. 3019997 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 31 (2019).