SIGNED NORIKANE, KAMAKURA PERIOD (13TH CENTURY)

Details

A Fukuoka Ichimonji School Tachi [Slung Sword]
Signed Norikane, Kamakura Period (13th Century)
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri [longitudinal ridge], chu-kissaki [mediam point], iori-mune [shallow peaked back], strong koshi-zori [curvature near the tang]

Kitae [forging pattern]: a combination of itame [wood grain] and mokume [burl wood grain] with ji-nie [hard metal granules] and midare-utsuri [irregular pattern reflection]

Hamon [tempering pattern]: fine choji-midare [irregular pattern of clove outline] with ashi [lines projecting into the hardened edge], yo [detached crystalline areas in the hardened edge] and ko-nie [very small hard metal granules]

Boshi [tip]: midare-komi [undulating temper line] with yakizume [no turnback]

Horimono [carvings]: futasuji-hi [double line] from tip along four-fifths of the length and bonji [Sanskrit characters] on each side, a ken [symbolic Buddhist sword] on the tachi ura [reverse] and the characters for Hachiman Daibosatsu on the tachi omote [obverse]

Nakago [tang]: ubu [unaltered], but with the end detached and re-joined, sujikai yasurime [diagonal file marks descending to the right], two mekugi-ana [holes for the retaining peg]

Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 30in. (76.2cm.)
Sori [curvature]: 1 3/16in. (3cm.)
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 1 5/16in. (3.3cm.)
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 7/8in. (2.3cm.)

Fitted with a two-tier gilt habaki [collar]

Black lacquered katana koshirae [set of mounts]: tsuka [hilt] covered in black same [rayskin] and wrapped in white leather; a pair of menuki [hilt fittings] each in the form of a horsewhip; black-lacquered horn kojiri [scabbard butt] and kashira [fitting at the end of the hilt]; tsuba [sword guard] pierced with four radishes, rim and fuchi [hilt collar] similarly decorated, shakudo nanakoji kozuka [knife] and kogai [skewer] worked in relief as dragons' heads, with old shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]
Total length of mounted sword 41 1/8in. (104.5cm.)

Provenance

The sword by repute Uesugi Family

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium

Sale room notice

This Lot is sold as viewed.
The illustration of the full length blade is correct.
The illustrations of the Boshi and the Tang are incorrect.

Lot Essay

Accompanied by an original certificate of registration as a Juyo Token [Important sword] by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], on 11 November 1994

According to tradition, this blade was owned by the Uesugi family, being the ninth in a selection of thirty-five swords made by Uesugi Kagekatsu (1555-1623)

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