Kantei

NH-0012 Rank 90

Chikuzen Fukuoka-jū Moritsugu

筑前國福岡住守次

An Enpō-era (1673-81) work by a smith of the Kuroda clan, with an ubu tang, suguha of very clear nioi-guchi and a mounting with a carved vermilion saya.

Shintō (1596-1780)Enpō era (1673–81)ChikuzenNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Moritsugu forged for the Kuroda clan during the Enpō era and is ranked among the best of the Fukuoka Ishidō school of Chikuzen, which together with the Nobukuni school forms the summit of the province's shintō work. He died on the sixth day of the fifth month of 1701, aged 69. The blade, signed 筑前國福岡住守次, is shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune, broad mihaba, deep sori — a school trait — and chū-kissaki: 72.1 cm nagasa, 1.8 cm sori, 3.26 cm motohaba, 830.5 g. The hada is a tight ko-itame with surface masame and ji-nie; the hamon a chū-suguha mixed with ko-gunome, ko-ashi and a very clear nioi-guchi; the bōshi straight with a ko-maru turnback. The tang is ubu, with suji-kai yasurime, a kuri-jiri tip, two mekugi-ana and a slightly advanced machi. The signature mixes block, running and cursive script. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers dated 2 July 2010. The koshirae has a vermilion-lacquered saya with koshi-kizami carving, an iron tsuba with namako-sukashi and kin-zōgan, catfish menuki in carved suaka, and iron fuchi-kashira and kojiri. Shirasaya and a two-piece gilt suaka habaki are included.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon (2 July 2010)
  • Ubu tang; Fukuoka Ishidō school, smiths to the Kuroda clan
  • Vermilion-lacquered saya with koshi-kizami carving, an uncommon treatment
  • Iron tsuba with namako-sukashi and kin-zōgan; catfish menuki in suaka
  • Chū-suguha with ko-gunome and a very clear nioi-guchi over tight ko-itame
  • Shirasaya included; condition described as excellent by the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • The signature carries no date
  • Two mekugi-ana and a slightly advanced machi
  • The koshirae has no tōsōgu papers of its own

Score breakdown

56.5/100

The score shares out 100 points: Signature and date 18 · Tang 22 · Mounting 18 · Declared condition 20 · Blade 8 · Shirasaya 4 · Price 10. It is computed from the record, not from an opinion. The mounting starts from what is known of its period, adds what vouches for it (its own NBTHK paper, a signed fitting, a crest) and subtracts what has been restored (saya, ito, same, habaki or sageo).

  1. Signature and date 10 of 18 Signed, with no engraved date
  2. Tang 12 of 22 Full-length tang, with the machi moved up (machi-okuri)
  3. Mounting -1 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin · restored: relacquered or new saya
  4. Declared condition 17 of 20 Sound condition according to the seller at origin
  5. Blade 8 of 8 72.1 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 6.5 of 10 Rank 49 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest