A Hizen wakizashi | Signed Hizen no kuni Kawachi Daijo Fujiwara Masahiro | Edo period, 17th century

Property from an Important Private American Collection

A Hizen wakizashi

Signed Hizen no kuni Kawachi Daijo Fujiwara Masahiro

Edo period, 17^th century

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi zukuri, shallow torii zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko itame-hada, jinie, Hizen kinuka hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Broad gunome hamon in nie deki with midare, sunagashi, kinsuji

Boshi [tip]: Rounded maruboshi with midarekomi, in hakikake style

Nakago [tang]: one mekugi-ana

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt, double clad

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the black lacquer koshirae with gold and nanako fittings comprising tsuba, fuchi-kashira with inlaid gold paulowania crests on a nanako ground, the associated kozuka with similar decoration, the menuki with roundels of paulownia

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 48.5 cm., 19 ⅛ in.

Sori [curvature]: 1.3 cm., ½ in.

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

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.8 cm., 1 ⅛ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 150066 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 17 (2005).