Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Shintō katana by Ōmi Daijō Tadahiro of the Hizen school, with a signed ubu tang, Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers and a vermilion-lacquered koshirae with signed fuchi-kashira.
Early Shintō katana forged by Ōmi Daijō Tadahiro, head of the main line of the Hizen school and son of Hizen Tadayoshi, known as the second generation. He received the title Ōmi Daijō in Kan’ei 18 (1641) and worked until Genroku 6 (1693). The tang is ubu, with one mekugi-ana, and bears the signature 肥前国住近江大掾藤原忠広 (Hizen no Kuni-jū Ōmi Daijō Fujiwara Tadahiro), undated. The nagasa is 70.1 cm with a sori of 1.2 cm. According to the original seller, the jigane is a very tight ko-itame with konuka-hada, the hamon a chū-suguha with a bright, even nioiguchi, and the bōshi ko-maru. The blade holds NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers. It comes with a koshirae with a vermilion-lacquered saya and a white-wrapped tsuka; according to the original seller, the mounting itself is of modern make, while the fittings date from the Edo period. The fuchi-kashira, signed 政国 (Masakuni) and depicting a bird of prey above a monkey hiding in a cave, has its own Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu papers. Also included are a shirasaya, bags for the shirasaya and the mounting, and a silver-foil habaki.
Strong points
- Work of Ōmi Daijō Tadahiro, a central figure of the Hizen school
- Ubu tang with full signature and a single mekugi-ana
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers
- Fuchi-kashira signed 政国 (Masakuni) with Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu papers
- Supplied with both koshirae and shirasaya
Points to bear in mind
- According to the original seller, the mounting is of modern make; only the fittings are Edo period
- The tsuka-ito has recently been rewrapped, according to the original seller
- According to the original seller, there is a slight kitae-ware near the hamachi, largely covered by the habaki
- The blade carries no inscribed date
Score
148.3 pointscurrent max. 255
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Certificate
+50
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50
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Tang
+25
Tang intact according to the seller at origin +25
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Declared condition
−5
The original seller declares flaws 0 · small kitae-ware, away from the edge −5
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Signature and date
+15
Signed, with no engraved date +15
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Mounting
+30
Modern or replacement mounting +15 · fitting with Tokubetsu Hozon Tōsōgu paper +10 · signed fittings: 1 +10 · rewrapped ito −5
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Blade
+10
70.1 cm: within the usable range +10
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Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
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Price
+18.3
Price: the more affordable, the more points +18.3
The score adds and subtracts points for each feature of the piece and has no ceiling: the highest in the catalogue today is 255. 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).
Measurements
- Nagasa
- 70.1 cm
- Sori
- 1.2 cm
- Tang
- Intact (ubu)
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- Modern mounting
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Ōmi Daijō Tadahiro
- Period
- Shintō (1596-1780)
- Dating
- From Kan’ei 18 (1641)
- Province
- Hizen
- Mekugi-ana
- 1
- Condition
- Localised flaw declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- No
- Motohaba
- 3 cm
- Sakihaba
- 2,1 cm
- Motokasane
- 0,6 cm
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