The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 56. An Osaka shinto katana | Signed Izumi no kami Kunisada | Edo period, 17th century.

Property from an Important Private American Collection

An Osaka shinto katana | Signed Izumi no kami Kunisada | Edo period, 17th century

VAT reduced rateUK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Lot Closed

May 16, 12:50 PM GMT

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from an Important Private American Collection

An Osaka shinto katana

Signed Izumi no kami Kunisada (orikaeshi-mei)

Edo period, 17th century


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

Kitae [forging pattern]: tight itame-hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: broad notare gunome with rich nie and nioi

Boshi [tip]: slight kaeri

Nakago [tang]: suriage, three mekugi-ana (one plugged) and orikaeshi signature

Habaki [collar]: double clad silver and gold

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: of later date, the black lacquer saya [scabbard] with copper fittings, menuki in the form of tigers, iron sukashi tsuba pierced in the form of stylised paulownia

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 61.2 cm., 24⅛ in.

Sori [curvature]: 0.8 cm., ⅜ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.2 cm., ⅞ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.9 cm., 1⅛ in.


Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 100787 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 60 (1985).

This lot should have a warehouse symbol. The item will be sent to Sotheby's Greenford Park Fine Arts Storage Facility immediately after the sale.

This is the work of the smith who was the son of the first generation signing Izumi no Kami Kunisada. From around 1672 he used the name Inoue Shinkai. His fine workmanship earned him the nickname ‘the Masamune of Osaka’.