A katana | Signed Kanemitsu | Muromachi period, 16th century

A katana

Signed Kanemitsu

Muromachi period, 16^th century

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

Kitae [forging pattern]: itame-hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: notare hamon in ko-nie, some nie-sake

Boshi [tip]: notare-komi

Horimono [carvings]: bo-bi with soe-bi

Nakago [tang]: kiri, two mekugi-ana, signed Kanemitsu

Habaki [collar]: double clad, copper and copper-gilt

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: of later date, the saya decorated in gold hiramaki-e on a silver lacquer ground with paulownia crests (kiri-mon), the kojiri applied in silver, chased and engraved with a profusion of paulownia fronds and foliage, the polished silver fuchi similarly decorated and with inlays of metal (suemon zogan), signed Seikakusai Yoshimasa, the polished silver kashira with a ho-o bird in shallow relief (shishiai-bori) before further paulownia, the shakudo and gilt menuki in the form of flower carts loaded with cherry blossoms

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 71.8 cm., 28¼ in.

Sori [curvature]: 1.4 cm., ½ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.3 cm., ⅞ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3 cm., 1⅛ in. 

The katana accompanied by a certificate of registration as Hozon Token [Sword Worthy of Preservation], no. 3007506 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 27 (2015). 

The sword fittings accompanied by a certificate of registration as Hozon Tosogu [Sword Mounts Worthy of Preservation], no. 4004460 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 26 (2014). 

The tsuba is illustrated back and front.