A Bizen wakizashi | Signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province) | Muromachi period, dated Eikyo yonen hachigatsu hi (a day in the fourth year, 8th month of the Eikyo era [equivalent to 1425])

Property from an Important Private Collection

A Bizen wakizashi 

Signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province)

Muromachi period, dated Eikyo yonen hachigatsu hi (a day in the fourth year, 8^th month of the Eikyo era [equivalent to 1425])

Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, deep sori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-itame hada, with jinie, visible chikei 

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Broad choji-midare in ko-niedeki and gunome-midare, with ashi and faint utsuri

Boshi [tip]: Rounded midare-boshi  

Nakago [tang]: Ubu, three mekugi ana, one of which has been filled, omote signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province), ura dated Eikyo yon nen hachi gatsu hi (a day in the 8^th month of the 4^th year of the Eikyo era, equivalent to 1432)

Habaki [collar]: Silver, single clad

Koshirae [mount]: Of later date, the saya [scabbard] decorated in polychrome hiramaki-e in same-nuri [simulated shark skin] ground, the associated shakudo and gilt fittings alternately decorated with cranes nestled among the branches of tall pine and further cranes in flight, all on a fine nanako ground, the kogai and kozuka signed Goto Mitsutaka (1721-1784) with kao, the menuki in the form of cranes, the round tsuba decorated in shakudo and gilt with branches of cherry in blossom

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 45.8 cm., 18⅛ in. 

Sori [curvature]: 0.8 cm., ⅜ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.66 cm., ¾ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.61 cm., 1 in.

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preserving], no. 1014888 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 3 (2021).