![An impressive tanto with fine koshirae [mount] | Signed Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige The blade Muromachi period, dated Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day of the 2nd month 1429) | The koshirae [scabbard and mounts] Edo period, early 19th century](https://dam.sothebys.com/dam/image/lot/b00c45ff-b3f7-4140-8b70-36d79cddbd80/primary/extra_small)
The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour
The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour
![View full screen - View 1 of Lot 80. An impressive tanto with fine koshirae [mount] | Signed Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige The blade Muromachi period, dated Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day of the 2nd month 1429) | The koshirae [scabbard and mounts] Edo period, early 19th century.](https://sothebys-md.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/797f8ce/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1642x2000+0+0/resize/385x469!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsothebys-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fmedia-desk%2Fb4%2Fda%2F03ac48cc4c9d8bf45cdb47d48f17%2Fl22225-c78cd-group.jpg)
An impressive tanto with fine koshirae [mount] | Signed Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige The blade Muromachi period, dated Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day of the 2nd month 1429) | The koshirae [scabbard and mounts] Edo period, early 19th century
Lot Closed
May 10, 03:18 PM GMT
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
An impressive tanto with fine koshirae [mount]
Signed Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige The blade Muromachi period, dated Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day of the 2nd month 1429)
The koshirae [scabbard and mounts] Edo period, early 19th century
Sugata [configuration]: Hira zukuri
Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-itame with areas of konuke hada
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Suguha in fine nioi
Boshi [tip]: Kaeritsune
Horimono [carvings]: Three hi to each side of the blade: one broad one fine, one short
Nakago [tang]: Suriage, three mekugi-ana, signed on the omote Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige (Morishige of Osafune in Bizen Province) and on the ura Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day in the second year, second month of the Shocho era, equivalent to 1429)
Habaki [collar]: Silver, single clad
In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard], with linen bag
Koshirae [mount]: The fine black lacquer saya [scabbard] with shakudo and shibuichi fittings decorated in takabori [high relief] with koi [carp], tadpoles and water-boatmen in swirling waters beneath hanging willow, river weeds and omodaka [three-leaf arrowheads], the fuchi signed Ichiyoso Yanagawa Naotoki and kao [cursive monogram]
Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 28.6 cm., 11⅜ in.
Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.4 cm., 1 in.
The tanto accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 123601 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 5 (1993)
The koshirae accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu [Sword Fitting Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 221858 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 5 (1993).