A wakizashi | Attributed to the Shitahara school | Muromachi period, 15th century

Property from an Important Private Collection

A wakizashi 

Attributed to the Shitahara school

Muromachi period, 15^th century 

Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, tori zori, o-kissaki 

Kitae [forging pattern]: Pronounced ko-itame hada, jinie

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Suguha in niedeki with slight notare

Boshi [tip]: Rounded maru-boshi in yakizume style 

Horimono [carvings]: Omote and ura with kenmaki ryu [dragon coiled around a Buddhist sword] 

Nakago [tang]: O-suriage, two mekugi-ana, mumei 

Habaki [collar]: Silver, single clad

Koshirae [mount]: The later ribbed black lacquer saya [scabbard], the associated fittings in shakudo nanako with gilt details, the fuchi-kashira [hilt-band and pommel] chased and engraved with a dragon among swirling clouds in relief, the menuki in the form of a goose in flight, the shibuichi kozuka of a three-clawed dragon, the circular tsuba with a dragon among cloud motif

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 39 cm., 15⅜ in.

Sori [curvature]: 0.7 cm., ⅜ in. 

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2 cm., ⅞ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.7 cm., 1⅛ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Hozon Token [Sword Worthy of Preservation], no. 3026024 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 3 (2021).