SWORD, JAPANESE, SHOTO, WAKIZASHI, BUKE ZUKURI
W1970.913a-c
Signed Kuni Suke, Plain Black Mottled Lacquer Scabbard, Metal Fittings.
Blade Type: 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: sugubaHorimono: 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 ,
page 39
Department:
History DepartmentCollection
| Accession Number: | W1970.913a-c |
|---|---|
| Accession Date: | 18 Apr 1967 |
Material
| Lacquer/Wood | b - scabbard |
|---|
| Copper/Metal | c - kodzuka |
|---|
| Silk/Textile | b - scabbard |
|---|
| Skin | a - sword |
|---|
| Copper/Metal | a - sword |
|---|
| Iron/Metal | a - sword |
|---|
Measurement
| length | 540mm |
|---|
| length | 124mm | nagako [tang that fits into hilt] |
|---|
| length | 382mm | nagasa |
|---|
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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/content/W1970.913a-c
Accessed 19 Aug 2024
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