SWORD, JAPANESE, DAITO, HANDACHI

Signed Black Mottled/Striated Lacquer Scabbard.
Blade Type: DAITO
Mei: SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE
Nagasa: 68.6 cm
Sori: 1.3cm, torii
Sugata: shinogi tsukuri, iori mune
Nakago: 20.5 cm, one mekugi ana, ubu
Kissaki: chu
Hada: unclear
Hamon: unclear
Date: mid-19th century

This robust katana blade is of the Shinshinto period. The blade bears the signature of the renowned swordsmith Masahide but is more likely to be either the work of a student, or a forgery, probably not seriously intended to deceive. Masahide led the revival of swordmaking in the Shinshinto period.

Koshirae
Type: HANDACHI
Saya: black lacquer over wood, swirled pattern with very small fragments of mijingai nuri inlay. Scars on scabbard indicate removal of decorations. Only remaining ornament is brass ashi with striated indents and stamped flowers and petals.
Tsuka: plain white same, binding missing
Fuchi/kabuto gane: plain brass
Tsuka ai: missing
Tsuba: iron, of naga-maru-gata shape, stamped with indecipherable, but probably heraldic design. Signed: TEMBO. Dimensions: 8.2 x 8.4 x 0.3 cm

Date: c. 1550

Tembo, of Nara, in Yamato Province, was one of the more prominent of the independent armourers who worked in the so-called ‘primitive’ style.

Ref; TROTTER George, Japanese Swords and Fittings in the Western Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, Perth 1989, No.53 ,
page 74

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Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data