Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Katana by the second-generation Echizen Yasutsugu, with the Aoi crest on the tang and a reference to nanban iron, designated Jūyō Tōken at the 12th session (1964). Kept in shirasaya.
Katana by the second-generation Echizen Yasutsugu, successor to the founder of the line in the service of the Tokugawa shogunate and the Echizen house. The tang is ubu, with one mekugi-ana, suji-chigai yasurime and an iriyama-gata tip; the omote bears the Aoi crest above the long signature 以南蛮鉄於武州江戸越前康継 (Nanban-tetsu o motte Bushū Edo ni oite Echizen Yasutsugu), which records the use of imported nanban iron. The blade is shinogi-zukuri with an iori-mune, a shallow sori and a chū-kissaki. According to the paper and the original seller, the jigane is itame mixed with mokume, with chikei and thick ji-nie; the hamon is notare with gunome, with ashi, abundant kinsuji and sunagashi, and the bōshi is notare-komi with hakikake. It was designated Jūyō Tōken at the 12th session, on 30 June 1964; the paper's commentary places it among the second generation's works closest to the founder's style. The blade is also published in the reference book Yasutsugu Taikan. It comes in shirasaya, with its bag and a two-piece gold-foil habaki.
Strong points
- Jūyō Tōken, 12th session (30 June 1964)
- Ubu tang with the Aoi crest and a long signature referring to nanban iron
- Work close to the first generation's style, according to the paper's commentary
- Published in the Yasutsugu Taikan
- Two-piece gold-foil habaki
Points to bear in mind
- No koshirae: the blade is kept in shirasaya only.
- The original seller does not state the blade's condition or the date of its polish.
- The blade carries no engraved date; the era is an estimate.
Score
150.3 pointscurrent max. 255
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Certificate
+140
NBTHK Jūyō paper +140
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Tang
+25
Tang intact according to the seller at origin +25
-
Declared condition
−20
The original seller says nothing about the condition −20
-
Signature and date
+15
Signed, with no engraved date +15
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Mounting
−15
No mounting −15
-
Blade
+10
70.9 cm: within the usable range +10
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
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Price
−9.7
Price: the more affordable, the more points −9.7
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
- 70.9 cm
- Sori
- 1.2 cm
- Tang
- Intact (ubu)
- Certificate
- NBTHK Jūyō
- Mounting
- No mounting
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Echizen Yasutsugu
- Period
- Shintō (1596-1780)
- Dating
- Kan'ei era (1624–1644)
- Province
- Echizen
- Mekugi-ana
- 1
- Condition
- Condition not declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- No
- Motohaba
- 3,2 cm
- Sakihaba
- 2,2 cm
- Motokasane
- 0,72 cm