Kantei

NH-0036 Rank 13

Tsunahiro

The Tsunahiro house of Sagami, heir to the Sōshū line, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers and an uchigatana koshirae in black rō-nuri lacquer, with shirasaya and tsunagi.

Shintō (1596-1780)Edo periodSagami (Kanagawa)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

The Tsunahiro house of Sagami carried on the Sōshū line and kept the name through several generations within the Edo period. This blade measures 70.0 cm of nagasa with 1.9 cm of sori, a generous curve, and holds NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers. The signature bears no date and the original seller makes no statement about the tang, which shows a single mekugi-ana. The mounting is an uchigatana koshirae with a saya in black rō-nuri lacquer, described in unusual detail: the kerria-coloured gilding is well preserved, the hilt has no play and the tsuba barely rattles. The ō-seppa carry a rising-sun motif, originally raised in suaka and gilt. The set is completed by a shirasaya and a tsunagi, so the mounting can stay assembled while the blade rests in its wooden case.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers
  • Uchigatana koshirae with a saya in black rō-nuri lacquer, in good condition per the original seller
  • Ō-seppa with a rising-sun motif raised in suaka and gilt
  • Supplied with shirasaya and tsunagi
  • Tsunahiro house of Sagami, heir to the Sōshū line

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller acknowledges that the mounting shows some wear
  • The signature carries no date
  • No statement is made about the tang

Score breakdown

71.9/100

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 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 9 of 18 Period mounting · with a signed fitting · restored: rewrapped ito
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 70 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 7.9 of 10 Rank 30 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest