SWORD,JAPANESE - SHOTO, WAKIZASHI

W1970.913

Signed Kuni Suke, Plain Black Mottled Lacquer Scabbard, Metal Fittings.
BladeType: SHOTO
Mei: KAWACHI KAMI FUJIWARA KUNISUKE
Nagasa: 38.2 cm
Sori: 0.8 cm, torii
Sugata: hira tsukuri, iori mune
Nakago: 12.4 cm, one mekugi ana, ubu
Hada: itame
Hamon: suguba
Horimono: naginata style

Date: early 17th century
This wakizashi blade is possibly 1st generation Kunisuke, of Settsu province (1600-46), an illustrious line of swordsmiths. The blade is now worn and flawed from much polishing. The signature reads: ‘Kunisuke, of the Fujiwara clan, Lord of Kawachi [made this]’.

Koshirae
Type: BUKE ZUKURI
Saya: black lacquer over wood with mottled texture. Kodzuka of patinated copper nanako, with decoration of grapes and vine leaves highlighted in gold. Black silk sageo. Kodzuka blade signed: IZUMI KAMI KUNITSUGU
Tsuka: white same bound with black silk
Fuchi/kashira: patinated copper nanako with formally arranged flowers and leaves
Menuki: bird on a bough
Tsuba: iron, of moko shape, with pierced sukashi design of peonies and a spider touched with gilt. Dimensions: 6.7 x 6.7 x 0.4 cm

Overall length: 54.0 cm

The Signature on the kodzuka blade reads: ‘Kunitsugu, Lord of Izumi province (made this)’. A Kunitsugu is recorded as having worked in Echizen province c. 1688.

Ref; TROTTER George, Japanese Swords and Fittings in the Western Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, Perth 1989, No.29 ,
page39

Department: 

History Department

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data

Accession Number: W1970.913
Accession Date: 18 Apr 1967

 

 

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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/content/W1970.913
Accessed 16 Aug 2024

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