Ordering Number: AS24788

Katana in Shirasaya (Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Signature: Hachiman Daibosatsu Ikkansai Shigetsugu Saku
Dated: February, 1913
八幡大菩薩一貫斉繁継作
大正二年二月日

Sayagaki: Made by Ikkan-sai Shigetsugu
Dated: February, 1913
With added inscription "Hachiman Daibosatsu"
Blade length: 2 shaku 2 sun
Written on an auspicious day in January, 1976
By Dr. Kanzan (with kaō)

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Ikkan-sai Shigetsugu.

Habaki: Gold-covered double habaki
Blade Length: 66.5 cm (26.18 in)
Curvature: 2.0 cm (0.79 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.04 cm (1.20 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.11 cm (0.83 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.62 cm (0.24 in)
Sword Weight: 750 g
Era: 1913 (Taisho 2)
Shape: The blade has a solid width and thickness.
On the front side, a dragon and sickle are carved, and on the back side, a sword and dokko (vajra) are carved.
Jigane: Well-forged ko-itame hada with a fine texture and excellent quality.
Hamon: Nie-based with choji-midare and gunome-midare.
The boshi is midare and turns back round.

Features: Kasama Ikkan-sai Shigetsugu, real name Kasama Giichi, was a swordsmith born in Shizuoka in 1886 (Meiji 19).
He was a teacher of Tsukamoto Okimasa and Miyairi Akihira, among others.
He forged swords at a smithy within the estate of Toyama Mitsuru.
He received many awards and produced numerous presentation swords.
He passed away in 1966 (Showa 41) at the age of 80.

Aoi Art’s Comment: This blade features an impressive carving of a dragon, a sword, and a dokko.
The hamon is also well-crafted.
Sword blades with such carvings are rare, and among them, Ikkan-sai Shigetsugu produced many.
As this blade was made shortly after the Meiji era ended, it can be favorably compared to works by Gassan Sadakazu.
This is a work expected to gain higher recognition in the future.

Tokubetsu Hozon Token (to be issued soon)
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata

Auction Starting Price:1,400,000JPY

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