KANEMASA: AN ECHIZEN WAKIZASHI IN FINE KOSHIRAE AND SHIRASAYA WITH NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN CERTIFICATES FOR THE MOUNTING AND BLADE
Lot 132 - JPN1225

By Kanemasa (1661-1673), signed Echizen ju Shimosa Daijo Fujiwara Kanemasa
Japan, Echizen Province, mid to late 17^th century, Enpo era (1673-1681)

This wakizashi has been judged and attested by the NBTHK to be the Hozon Token (‘Worthy of Preservation’) rank. The NBTHK Hozon paper, no. 101189, dated 30 April Showa 62 [1987], with an imprint of the tang and the seal of the NBTHK, with a registration stamp from the Educational Committee of Aichi, no. 42971, registration date 19 September Showa 47 [1972], issue date 25 June Showa 62 [1987], accompanies this lot.

This koshirae has been judged and attested by the NBTHK to be the Hozon Token (‘Worthy of Preservation’) rank. The NBTHK Hozon paper, no. 438151, dated 15 October Heisei 11 [1999], with a photograph of the koshirae and the seal of the NBTHK, accompanies this lot.

The blade:
The sugata is shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune, and chu-kissaki. The hamon is large, irregular gunome midare in ji-nie and chikei, the hada is ko-itame nagare. The nakago is ubu (not shortened), the tip is haagari, with one mekugi-ana, the yasurime is sujikai, and the mei reads ECHIZEN JU SHIMOSA DAIJO FUJIWARA KANEMASA.

The mounting:
The silver habaki with diagonal file marks and dew drops. The shibuichi tsuba of nademarugata form, with a kozuka hitsu ana, the ishimeji ground with gold and iro-e takazogan, featuring a cat with peonies and butterflies. The fuchi-kashira is of shinchu (brass) with an ishimeji ground, depicting Chokaro, gourd, and horses rendered in iro-e takazogan and shishiaibori. The fuchi signed ROSEN saku [made by Rosen]. The tsuka with rayskin samegawa and black tsuka-ito, with a bamboo and morning glory-form menuki carved in gold. The saya is of roiro with a roughened surface resembling leather. The kozuka with a shakudo nanako ground and gold and silver takazogan, decorated with floral wreaths, and inscribed, ‘RAIJO, HIJI-ZAN, TSUSHIMA no KAMI, FUJIWARA no ASON KANENAGA below a kiku flower (Protection from thunder / Mt. Hiji, Fujiwara no Ason Kanenaga, the Governor of Tsushima Province)’. The shirasaya inscribed with a sayagaki, ‘SHIMOSA DAIJO FUJIWARA KANEMASA, ECHIZEN JU, JIDAO ENPO GORO [Fujiwara Kanemasa, with the title of Shimousa Daijo, resident in Echizen Province, dating from circa the Enpo era (1673-1681)], HACHO ISSISSHAKU HASSUN NIBU-HAN ARI KORE [The length of the blade is 1-shaku 8-sun and 2-bu and a half (circa 55.3 cm)]’.

NAGASA 55.3 cm, LENGTH 70 cm (the blade), 77.2 cm (the koshirae), 78.7 cm (the shirasaya)

Provenance: Christie’s, The Japanese Aesthetic, 15 May 2013, London, lot 116. The shirasaya with an old label from Christie’s, ‘15^th May 2013 8822 116’. A noted private collector of Japanese swords, acquired from the above.
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear, little ware, and kuchikomi. The koshirae with minor wear.