Kantei
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Photographs by the seller at origin.

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

The piece

Katana by Tsushima no Kami Tsunemitsu of the Edo Ishidō school, dated 1661, designated Jūyō Tōken by the NBTHK at the 22nd session, with a gold-lacquered koshirae and shirasaya.

Tsushima no Kami Tsunemitsu was, together with Dewa no Kami Mitsuhira, one of the leading smiths of the Ishidō branch established in Edo, Musashi province, known for chōji midare reminiscent of Ichimonji work. The blade is shinogi-zukuri with an iori-mune, shallow sori and a somewhat compact chū-kissaki, with a bōhi ending in a rounded maru-dome on both sides, visible in the photographs. According to the NBTHK assessment, the jigane is a dense ko-itame with midare-utsuri, and the hamon a chōji midare mixed with ko-chōji and ko-gunome, with abundant ashi and yō and a bright nioiguchi; the original seller also notes jūka-chōji. The tang is ubu with a single mekugi-ana, signed 対馬守橘常光 (Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Tsunemitsu) on the omote and dated 寛文元年八月日 (Kanbun gannen hachigatsu hi) on the ura. It was designated Jūyō Tōken at the 22nd NBTHK session on 1 June 1974; the assessment regards it as a valuable reference for its date. It comes with a koshirae featuring a gold nashiji lacquered saya with family crests, an iron tsuba with gold inlay and a wrapped tsuka, as well as its shirasaya.

Strong points

  • Designated Jūyō Tōken by the NBTHK (22nd session, 1974)
  • Ubu tang, signed and dated 1661
  • Ichimonji-inspired chōji midare, characteristic of the Edo Ishidō school
  • Koshirae with gold nashiji saya bearing crests, plus shirasaya

Points to bear in mind

  • The original listing does not state the condition of the blade or the date of polish
  • The mounting is neither described nor dated by the seller; it is documented only by the photographs
  • The tsuka-ito appears to have been redone in the photographs

Score

179.1 pointscurrent max. 255

  1. Certificate +140

    NBTHK Jūyō paper +140

  2. Tang +25

    Tang intact according to the seller at origin +25

  3. Declared condition −20

    The original seller says nothing about the condition −20

  4. Signature and date +25

    Signed and with an engraved date +25

  5. Mounting −2

    Mounting the original seller says nothing about 0 · family crests (mon): 1 +3 · rewrapped ito −5

  6. Blade +15

    74.2 cm: long blade, 74 cm or more +15

  7. Shirasaya +5

    With a storage shirasaya +5

  8. Price −8.9

    Price: the more affordable, the more points −8.9

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).

Nagasa
74.2 cm
Sori
1.4 cm
Tang
Intact (ubu)
Certificate
NBTHK Jūyō
Mounting
Mounting documented only in the photographs
Storage shirasaya
Yes
Period
Shintō (1596-1780)
Dating
8th month of Kanbun 1 (1661)
Province
Musashi
Mekugi-ana
1
Condition
Condition not declared
Signed
Yes
With an engraved date
Yes
Motohaba
3,1 cm
Sakihaba
2,0 cm
Motokasane
0,7 cm

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