Kantei

NH-0083 Rank 22

Harima Daijō Tadakuni

Katana by Harima Daijō Tadakuni of the Hizen school, dated Kan'ei 18 (1641), with a rare suguha blade, bonji and ken carvings, ubu tang and a complete koshirae.

Shintō (1596-1780)2nd month of Kan'ei 18 (1641)HizenNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana by Harima Daijō Tadakuni, a Hizen smith who worked for the Ogi domain, a branch of the Nabeshima of Saga, and a member of the first Tadayoshi's circle. Best known for chōji midare, this blade in chū-suguha is, according to the original seller, one of his scarcer works. Shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune, funbari at the base, a fairly deep sori and an extended chū-kissaki. The seller describes a ko-itame hada with dense ji-nie and fine chikei, a chū-suguha hamon with ko-ashi, ko-nie, kinsuji and sunagashi, and a straight bōshi with ko-maru. The photographs show carvings of bonji and a hoko with dragon on the omote, and bonji with gomabashi on the ura. The tang is ubu, with ōsujikai yasurime, kengyō tip and one mekugi-ana, signed on the omote and dated Kan'ei 18 on the ura. It comes with an uchigatana koshirae: fancy-lacquered saya with koshi-kizami, iron tsuba with gold-inlaid waves and plovers, matching fuchi-kashira and kojiri, gold shishi menuki and a bahari with autumn insects, plus a habaki with double kiri-mon and a shirasaya. The original seller states an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper issued in 1999.

Strong points

  • Dated work by Harima Daijō Tadakuni, Kan'ei 18 (1641)
  • Suguha, unusual for a smith known for chōji
  • Bonji, hoko and dragon carvings
  • Ubu tang with full signature and a single mekugi-ana
  • Complete koshirae with matching iron and gold fittings

Points to bear in mind

  • The koshirae is not dated by the original seller
  • The Tokubetsu Hozon paper is stated but does not appear in the photographs

Score breakdown

69.3/100

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 18 of 18 Signed and with an engraved date
  2. Tang 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 1 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
  4. Declared condition 17 of 20 Sound condition according to the seller at origin
  5. Blade 8 of 8 69.4 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 3.3 of 10 Rank 94 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest