A wakizashi | Attributed to Rai Kunisue | Kamakura period, 13th century

Property from an Important Private Collection

A wakizashi

Attributed to the Rai Kunisue School

Kamakura period, 13^th century

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

Kitae [forging pattern]: dense ko-itame flowing into mokume [wood burl] with jinie and chikei

Hamon [tempering pattern]: chu-suguha with small choji notare in nioi-deki, some ashi and yo

Boshi [tip]: sugu-boshi with slight kaeri

Nakago [tang]: suriage, one mekugi-ana, unsigned

Habaki [collar]: double clad, copper gilt

In shirasaya plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: of later date, the saya decorated in black lacquer, the fittings in gold and gilt on nanako ground, the tsuba with chrysanthemums and paulownia, the kozuka with two dragons

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 54.5 cm., 21½ in.

Sori [curvature]: 0.9 cm., ½ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.9 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 25 cm., 1 in.

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 1002326 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 26 (2014).