An Edo Ishido wakizashi | Signed Heki Mitsuhira zo (made by Heki Mitsuhira) | Edo period, 17th century

Property from an Important Private American Collection

An Edo Ishido wakizashi

Signed Heki Mitsuhira zo (made by Heki Mitsuhira)

Edo period, 17^th century

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, tori-zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-itame hada mixed with ko-mokume hada, the jigane with utsuri

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Choji midare hamon with some strong peaks in nioi, some ko choji-midare and fukuro choji midare, yo

Boshi [tip]: Midare komi

Nakago [tang]: Ubu, ha-agari kurijiri, one mekugi-ana, the omote signed Heki Mitsuhira zo (made by Heki Mitsuhira)

Habaki [collar]: Copper, single clad

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: The black lacquer saya decorated in gold hiramaki-e with igeta [well frame] and shitsume [four-eyes] mon [crests], the gilt nanako shakudo fuchi-kashira with three-clawed dragons among swirling clouds, the copper-gilt menuki in the form of further three-clawed dragons, the silver kozuka chased and engraved with a Chinese warrior beside a hound sounding a trumpet, gilt details, signed Eishu, the circular iron tsuba pierced with trees, foliage, utensils and baskets

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 45.4 cm., 17⅞ in.

Sori [curvature]: 1 cm., ⅜ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.1 cm., ¾ in.

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

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 1016892 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 3 (2021).