Kantei

NH-0328 Rank 2

Sekizenjō Chikanori

関善定家近則

Katana by Sekizenjō Chikanori, Mito domain smith and pupil of Naotane, signed and dated 1869, ubu, with an aogai-lacquered koshirae made for the blade according to the seller and NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper.

Shinshintō (1781-1876)8th month of Meiji 2 (1869)Hitachi (Mito)NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana by Sekizenjō Chikanori (関善定家近則), a Mito smith of the late shinshintō period. According to the seller of origin, born in 1815, he trained under Taikei Naotane, served the Mito domain as smith and inherited the Seki Zenjō line by adoption. The blade, shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune and a nagasa of 71.3 cm, is signed and dated the 8th month of Meiji 2 (1869), made to order for the Ebata family. The seller describes a tight ko-itame with ji-nie, a gunome-midare in ko-nie with ashi, and a midare bōshi with ko-maru turnback; it carries two futasuji-hi on the omote and a bō-hi with soe-hi on the ura. The nakago is ubu, with keshō sujikai yasurime, kurijiri and a single mekugi-ana, as the photographs confirm. Included are a gold-foiled copper habaki, a shirasaya and an uchigatana-koshirae with aogai mijin-nuri lacquered saya (98.7 cm) which, the seller states, was made for this blade: an iron tsuba with inlaid dragon, clouds and waves, tiger menuki in gold iroe, ‘horse from a gourd’ fuchi-kashira, white same with hemp ito and an iron kojiri. The tsuba holds a Tokubetsu Kichō Kodōgu certificate of 1970, from the now retired system. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper of 2012; published in several catalogues of Mito swords.

Strong points

  • Signed and dated the 8th month of Meiji 2 (1869), a commission for the Ebata family that the seller of origin places in the mature period of the smith, a pupil of Taikei Naotane.
  • Ubu nakago with a single mekugi-ana, keshō sujikai yasurime and kurijiri, as seen in the photographs.
  • Uchigatana-koshirae with an aogai mijin-nuri lacquered saya which the seller of origin states was made to measure for this blade.
  • Iron tsuba with inlaid dragon, clouds and waves, holding a Tokubetsu Kichō Kodōgu certificate of 1970 as Mito work.
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper of 2012; the blade is published in several exhibition catalogues of Mito swords.
  • Carvings of two futasuji-hi on the omote and a bō-hi with soe-hi on the ura, visible in the photographs.

Points to bear in mind

  • The seller of origin does not state the condition of the blade; the photographs show a careful polish but cannot certify it.
  • The tsuba certificate belongs to the Kichō Kodōgu system, retired by the NBTHK, and covers the guard only, not the whole mounting.
  • That the mounting was made for this blade rests on the written statement of the seller of origin, not on the photographs.

Score breakdown

80/100

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 14 of 18 Mounting made to fit the blade · with one fitting bearing an old NBTHK certificate (Kichō)
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 71.3 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 3 of 10 Rank 98 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest