Ordering Number: 22138 (consignment Sale)
Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token)(NBTHK Hozon Tosogu)
Inscription(red painted):
Enju Kunitoki 延寿国時
Hon-a (Kao) 本阿
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Saijyo saku ranking.
Habaki: Solid gold Habaki with family crest of Manji.
Blade length: 72.4 cm or 28.5 in
Sori: 1.8 cm or 0.7 in
Mekugi:4
Width at the hamachi: 3.3 cm or 1.3 in
Width at the Kissaki: 2.6cm or 1.0 in
Kasane: 0.6 cm or 0.2 in
The weight of the sword: 810grams
Era: from the late Kamakura period to the Nanbokucho period, around the 14th cenruty.
Shape: the wide and thick Osuriage Mumei katana. The curve is deep and the kissaki is little long. The Bo-hi is carved on the both sides of blade.
Jigane: Koitamehada is grained really well with Jinie. Beautiful surface with light Utsuri.
Hamon: Niedeki suguha with a lot of ko-ashi. Boshi is rounded.
Features: Higo Enju was the swordsmith school in Higo from the late Kamakura perirod to Nanbokucho era. Taro Kunimura, the founder of this school was said to be a relative of Rai Kuniyuki. So the style of Higo Enju is similar to Rai school. Enju Kunitoki is said to be the son or the disciple of Kunimura. This Tachi shows the characteristics of Enju schools well. Jigane with chikei is very good.
Koshirae: (NBTHK Hozon Tosogu)- Higo Koshirae
Tsuba: the rounded iron tsuba with open work carving.
Fuchi: Arigoshi(蟻腰) shaped
Kashira: Wavelet and mountain path are engraved
Saya: samegawa kizami saya
Menuki: carving of beans
Seppa: Gold foiled. Up/Down distinguishable.
Kojiri(Doro Suri): Iron plate with carving of dragon.
From Aoi-Art:
This wide and thick blade is wonderful. This sword really show thecharacteristics of Enju school. I think there is no better work of Enju Kunitoki. Koshirae is also exxcellent, and it is a Higo style to match the swrod. Higo style koshirae is said to have been made by Hosokawa Tadaoki, the feudal lord of the Higo province. He was the disciple of Sen Rikyu, and Higo koshirae which is not gorgeous, but practical and have a solid atmosphere shows his aesthetic sene, which is similar to that of the Japanese tea ceremony. At first glance, the koshirae looks too small for the sword, but it fits perfectly when actually placed in the koshirae. The craftsmanship is excellent.
As written in the sayagaki, this sword is said to have come from the Hachisuka family.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Juyo Token paper
NBTHK Hozon Tosogu paper
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata
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