Ordering Number: 25768

Tanto in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature:
Bizen no Kuni Osafune Katsumitsu 備前国長船勝光
Daiei Rokunen Habhigatsu Hi (August 1526) 大永六年八月日

Sue-Koto: Jyo Saku: Bizen Province
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Bizen no Kuni Osafune Katsumitsu.

Habaki: Double silver-foiled habaki.
Blade Length: 20.6cm (8.11in)
Curvature: 0.0cm (0.00in)
Mekugi-ana: 1
Motohaba: 1.77cm (0.70in)
Kasane: 0.60cm (0.24in)
Weight: 105g

Era: late Muromachi period, 1526
Shape: A slender tanto with a thick kasane, relatively long blade in proportion to its width, and a long nakago.
Jigane: Fine, well-forged ko-itame and tightly packed ko-mokume hada. Utsuri appears.
Hamon: Gunome-midare with somewhat pointed peaks. The nioiguchi is thick, with fine nie, sunagashi, and yubashiri activities. The boshi is midare-komi with a turnback.

Special Feature: During the late Muromachi period, tanto with thick kasane, known as yoroi-doshi (armor-piercing daggers), were produced in Mino and Bizen. These daggers were designed to penetrate armor. As relatively few tanto from the Sue-Bizen school survive, examples such as this are particularly valuable.

Koshirae:

Tsuba: Suaka ground, folded crane design with inlay
Fuchi: Shakudo ground, bird design
Kashira: Iron ground, grape design
Kojiri: Shakudo ground, cloud design
Saya: Black ishime-ji scabbard
Menuki: Plum blossom design
Kozuka: Brass ground, landscape design, with kogatana

Historical background: The Ningbo Incident (1523)
In 1523, trading missions representing the Hosokawa and Ouchi clans, which had gained control over Japan–Ming trade as the Muromachi shogunate declined, engaged in an armed conflict in Ningbo, China. This incident worsened relations between Japan and Ming China and contributed to the decline of official tribute trade. Subsequently, the activities of the Wokou (pirates) increased, and illicit trade flourished.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.
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Please note: the price does not include the shipping fees.

Auction Starting Price:480,000JPY

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