Ordering Number: AS24409

Katana in Shirasaya, Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token).

Signature: Mumei(Unsigned) (Mihara Masanobu).
無銘(三原正信)

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
The quality of this work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku for Mumei (Mihara Masanobu).
Habaki: Solid copper Habaki.
Blade Length: 69.8 cm (27.48 in).
Curvature: 1.3 cm (0.51 in).
Mekugi Hole: 3.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.79 cm (1.10 in).
Width at Yokote (Sakihaba): 1.74 cm (0.69 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.66 cm (0.26 in).
Sword Weight: 660 g.
Era: From the late Nanbokucho period to the early Muromachi period.
Around 1335–1394, about 640 years ago.
Shape: Greatly suriage and unsigned.
The blade has standard width and thickness with an appropriate curvature and a slightly extended kissaki, giving the sword a well-balanced shape.
Jigane: Ko-itame hada.
The steel is finely forged and shows clear utsuri.
Hamon: Nie-deki suguha with kuichigai-ba working within the temper line.
Near the kissaki there are ko-ashi and kinsuji activities.
There are also double temper lines, and the boshi forms double and triple temper patterns, making this a well-executed blade.

Features: The Mihara school flourished in Bingo Province from the late Kamakura period through the Muromachi period, and Masanobu was active during the late Nanbokucho period.
This blade was made about 640 years ago and displays beautifully refined jigane with visible utsuri.
The hamon is suguha, and toward the upper section ko-ashi appear and the temper becomes double.
The boshi shows variations with double and triple temper lines.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Round shakudo nanako ground with a horse design carved and finished with gold iroe.
The rim has a gold fukurin.
Signature: Kikuoka Mitsuyuki (kao).
Menuki: Shichifukujin (Seven Lucky Gods) design.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo ground carved with torii gates and figures, finished with gold iroe.
Signature: Hideo Nomura Kanenori.
Saya (Scabbard): Black roiro lacquer saya.
Kogai: Shakudo nanako ground with high-relief carvings of figures, deer, and pine trees with gold iroe.
Kozuka: Shakudo nanako ground with high-relief carvings of figures, deer, and pine trees with gold iroe.
With kogatana.

Aoi Art’s Comment: Mihara Masanobu blades show more variation compared with other Mihara works.
Utsuri appears in the jigane, and from the monouchi area small ashi activities are visible.
The hamon becomes double, and the boshi forms triple temper lines.
The beauty of the suguha stands out, giving a calm impression while also showing attractive variations.
This is a piece we highly recommend.

NBTHK Hozon Token certificate.
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.

Please note: the price does not include the shipping fees.

Auction Starting Price:850,000JPY

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