SWORD, JAPANESE, DAITO, HANDACHI
W1970.917a-b
Blade Type: DAITO
Mei: SHOJI CHIKUZEN DAIJO TAIKEI NAOTANE/TEMPO JU ICHI NEN CHU SHU
Nagasa: 68.4 cm
Sori: 2.6 cm, torii
Sugata: shinogi tsukuri, iori mune
Nakago: 20.0 cm, one mekugi ana, ubu
Kissaki: o
Hada: itame
Hamon: unclear
Date: autumn 1840
This Shinshinto tachi blade, of Sosho style, is the daito of a daisho (its companion shoto is W919). The signature is of a very famous swordsmith. Naotane (1779-1857) was one of the pupils of the famous Suishinshi Masahide, who was responsible for the great revival of swordmaking known as the Shinshinto period. This blade, although obscured by amateurish attempts at polishing, is markedly superior in quality. The signature appears genuine and the fittings are of exceptional quality, indicating that the blade is indeed a genuine example of the work of Naotane. The signature reads: ‘Taikei Naotane, Lord of Chikuzen Province (made this)’. ‘Shoji’ indicates imperial patronage in the form of a stipend, although by Naotane’s time this may have been an honorary title only. The tang also bears Naotane’s personal seal.
Koshirae
Type: HANDACHI
Saya: black lacquer over wood, swirled pattern with two seme. Ishi dzuki of shakudo and gold, decorated with two owls in a tree.
Tsuka: white same, bound with gold-coloured silk, over wood
Fuchi/kabuto gane: fuchi with flowers and a cricket, kabuto gane with gold flowers and a bird
Tsuka ai: en suited with fuchi/kabuto gane
Tsuba: shakudo worked in Kano style of mokko shape, inlaid with gold, shibuichi, sentoku, copper and carved katakiri bori. Obverse decorated with carved plants containing gold inlay, with overlay of figures and butterflies; reverse, decorated with carved lotus plant with inlay of gold and overlay of bird and tortoise. Signed: MASATOSHI, with personal seal.
Dimensions: 7.1 x 7.1 x 0.2 cm
Overall length: 100.0 cm
Ref; TROTTER George, Japanese Swords and Fittings in the Western Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, Perth 1989, No.52 ,
page 72
Department:
History DepartmentCollection
| Accession Number: | W1970.917a-b |
|---|---|
| Accession Date: | 18 Apr 1967 |
Material
| Lacquer/Wood | 0 - Whole |
|---|
| Copper Alloy/Metal | b - scabbard |
|---|
| Gold/Metal | b - scabbard |
|---|
| Skin | a - sword |
|---|
| Silk/Textile |
|---|
| Gold/Metal |
|---|
| Copper Alloy/Metal |
|---|
Measurement
| length | 1000mm |
|---|
| length | 684mm | nagasa |
|---|
| length | 20mm | nakago |
|---|
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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/content/W1970.917a-b
Accessed 21 Jun 2024
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