Kantei

NH-0226 Rank 114

Tennenshi Masahira

Katana signed Tennenshi, attributed by the NBTHK to Masahira of Satsuma, with an apparently intact tang, shirasaya and a complete koshirae.

Shintō (1596-1780)Edo period, Kansei era (1789–1801)SatsumaNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed with the art name Tennenshi (天然子), which the NBTHK attributes to Masahira of Satsuma province. The original seller places it in the Edo period, in the Kansei era (around 1790), and describes it as a robust blade. It measures 72.8 cm in nagasa with 1.8 cm of sori, a motohaba of 3.4 cm, a sakihaba of 2.3 cm and a motokasane of 0.85 cm. The photographs show a nakago that appears intact, with visible file marks, an even patina, a single mekugi-ana and the three-character signature on the omote. The blade comes with a shirasaya and a silver habaki with diagonal striations. The photographs also show a complete koshirae: a pierced iron tsuba with a hammered surface, a tsuka with a dark wrap worn by use, gilt floral menuki and plain fuchi-kashira, and a black saya lacquered with an ishime texture and a blue sageo. The original seller neither describes nor dates the mounting. The photographed origami is an NBTHK Hozon Tōken paper, no. 346904, dated 2 June Heisei 9 (1997).

Strong points

  • Signed Tennenshi on the nakago, attributed by the NBTHK to Masahira of Satsuma
  • Apparently intact nakago with a single mekugi-ana
  • Complete koshirae with a pierced iron tsuba and gilt floral menuki
  • Comes with shirasaya and silver habaki
  • NBTHK paper photographed

Points to bear in mind

  • The paper shown in the photographs is Hozon (1997); the Tokubetsu Hozon mentioned in the listing does not appear in any photograph
  • The original seller neither describes nor dates the mounting
  • The original seller does not state the condition of the blade

Score breakdown

50.5/100

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 20 of 22 Tang intact according to the photographs
  3. Mounting -2 of 18 Mounting documented only in the photographs
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 72.8 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 3.5 of 10 Rank 91 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest