SWORD, JAPANESE, DAITO, BUKE ZUKURI

Blade Type: DAITO
Mei: BIZEN KUNI OSAFUNE HIKOSAEMONJO… (cut off)/EISHO SAN NEN NI GATSU HI. Also signed: ETSU TAKATA NO SADATOSHI NI YORI KOI… (cut off)/ANSEI YON NEN NI GATSU HI
Nagasa: 73.8 cm
Sugata: shinogi tsukuri
Nakago: 17.5 cm, two mekugi ana (one plugged) suriage
Hada: unclear or muhada
Hamon: large mixture of choji midare and gonome
Date: c. 19th century

This is an interesting blade, the tang of which bears two signatures dated 350 years apart. The lower portion of the tang has been shortened, removing vital information that could have explained this unusual dual inscription. The ‘old’ signature and date read (tachi mei): ‘In Osafune village, in Bizen Province, Hikosaemonjo… (cut off here)/February 1506’. The style of the sword could conceivably fit this group and period; however, the relatively fresh file marks and the lack of real age patina in the tang, viewed together with the fact that the signature is cut over a plugged peg-hole, indicate that the signature and date have been added after the tang was greatly shortened. Since the tang has been shortened yet again in recent times, the swordsmith’s art name has been lost, but Japanese sources show a Hikosaemonjo Sukesada working in this general style in Osafune village, Bizen Province, in 1506. The ‘new’ signature reads (katana mei): ‘Sadatoshi, moved from Takata village, in Echigo Province, by means of the favour of… (cut off here)/February 1857’. It is known that a Sadatoshi resided in Musashi Province c. 1854-64. Like Sukesada, Sadatoshi has inscribed his name over a plugged peg hole, indicating that he signed a shortened tang. However, the ‘freshness’ of the file marks and the tang is, in this case, properly suited to this signature date. The second shortening of the tang has again removed information that could have explained whether Sadatoshi was commissioned by a patron to shorten a Koto blade and recut the original signature, or whether he did so to a blade of his own making in the hope of passing off a Shinshinto blade as a more valuable shortened Koto blade, which was by no means an uncommon practice. As Sadatoshi was a member of the Masahide school, who were great copiers of Koto blades, a certain doubt must arise regarding his motives. In any event, the recutting of a previous signature, especially when this is not stated, is a very dubious practice. This blade cannot be categorically identified as a deliberate attempt to defraud by forgery, but it must be classified as a 19th century copy of a 16th century tachi.

Koshirae
Type: BUKE ZUKURI
Saya: black lacquer over wood
Tsuka: white same, bound with black silk, over wood
Fuchi/kashira: fuchi, depicting military button of rank, has had its precious metal inlay removed. It is signed, but signature is now unclear due to abrasion. Kashira missing
Menuki: both have been removed
Tsuba: iron, of ota-fuku-mokko shape, with a bas-relief of climbing vine.
Dimensions: 7.9 x 8.4 x 0.7 cm
Overall length: 100.3 cm

Department: 

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data