With gold kinpun-mei, attribution to Motoshige, Nanbokucho period (14th century)

Details

An Osuriage Bizen Katana
With gold kinpun-mei, attribution to Motoshige, Nanbokucho period (14th century)
A fine broad early 14th century o-suriage Bizen katana length 66.5 cm., itame-hada with utsuri, kata-ochi gunome hamon, ko-maru boshi, with bohi grooves, attributed to Motoshige, working in the first half of the 14th century, katana koshirae with black lacquered saya, iron fittings with gold-inlaid tachi-aoi mon [crest with upright hollyhock leaves], round tsuba with prunus and hollyhock, gilt menuki of goma-bashi (Buddhist ritual tongs)

Sugata [configuration]: broad shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, low curve, chu-kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: itame with some nagare hada, ji-nie-utsuri
Hamon [tempering pattern]: squarish kataochi gunume-midare, with togari-ba, of ko-nie
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru with togari tendency
Nakago [tang]: o-suriage, katte sagari file marks, two mekugi-ana, kuri-jiri
Habaki [collar]: single gilt
Horimono [carving]: bohi kakitosu both sides of blade
Nagasa [length of blade]: 66.5 cm.
Koshirae [mounting]: katana koshirae ishime-ji black lacquered saya, fuchi, kashira, and kojiri of black iron with inlaid gold tachi-aoi mon within circles, round iron tsuba with prunus and aoi in sukidashi-bori with gilt details, one hitsu-ana plugged with shakudo, the menuki gilt goma-bashi [ritual tongs]

The blade accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Juyo Token [Important Sword] no.3900 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword] on 8th September 1980

Brought to you by

Anastasia von Seibold

avonseibold@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3127

Lot Essay

Dated works signed by Motoshige of Osafune in Bizen Province span the long period between the Showa (1312-1317) and Joji (1362-1368) eras, suggesting that there were two generations, although it has not been possible to define a border line between them. Many of his early works have kataochi-gunome choji similar to the work of Kagemitsu of Osafune working around the same time, and later pieces have large saka choji close to work of the Aoe school of Bitchu Province. This is a fine early Nanbokucho period work by the smith.

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