Until 1st May, 2026
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YOSHIMICHI: A MISHINA SCHOOL KATANA WITH NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN CERTIFICATE
Lot 140 - JPN1225
By Yoshimichi, signed Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi (5th Generation)
Japan, Kyoto, dated 1712, Edo period (1615-1868)
This katana has been judged and attested by the NBTHK to be the Tokubetsu Hozon Token (‘Especially Worthy of Preservation’) rank. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, no. 122277, dated 21 June Heisei 3 [1991], with a photo of the tang, confirming the signature, and the seal of the NBTHK, with a registration stamp from the Educational Committee of Tokyo, no. 236584, registration date 19 December Showa 60 [1985], issue date 20 August Heisei 3 [1991], accompanies this lot.
The blade:
The sugata is shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune, and Mishina style boshi. The hamon is gunome notare, with ji-nie, ko-ashi, sunagashi, and kinsuji, the hada is itame and masame. The nakago is ubu with one mekugi ana, the tip is iriyamagata, the yasurime is sujikai, the mei reads TANBA no KAMI YOSHIMICHI with an Imperial kikumon and the uramei SHOTOKU NI NEN HACHI GATSU KICHI JITSU [On a lucky day in August of the second year of Shotoku era (1712)].
The mounting:
The habaki of gold-copper with horizontal file marks, and incised lines. The iron tsuba worked in yo-sukashi in form of a kiku and tendrils, and the nakago with copper sekigane. The fuchi-kashira of shakudo with an ishimeji ground and detailed with pavilions and pines in kebori and katakiribori as well as highlights in gold and iro-e takazogan. The tsuka of samegawa (rayskin), covered in black tsuka-ito, and with a copper and shakudo mekugi depicting armors. The saya of a luster roiro. The kozuka of shakudo nanako with gold takazogan featuring a dragon in a raised reserve.
NAGASA 63.4 cm, LENGTH 80.3 cm, 92.5 cm (the koshirae), 90.6 cm (the shirasaya)
Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The koshirae with few minor flakes to the lacquer.
Auction comparison:
Compare a related Mishina school Tanto, also by Yoshimichi and dated 1641, at Christie’s, Important Swords from the Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings, 29 March 2005, New York, lot 42 (sold for USD 13,200 or approx. EUR 19,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).
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