Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Katana signed and dated by Yokoyama Sukekane of Bizen in the 2nd month of Kōka 3 (1846), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers. Offered in shirasaya, without mounts.
Katana by Yokoyama Sukekane, a Bizen smith of the shinshintō period and one of the leading figures of the late Osafune school. According to the original seller, he was the adopted son of Yokoyama Sukemori and claimed descent in the 58th generation from Tomonari, the legendary founder of the Bizen tradition. The blade has a nagasa of 79.8 cm, a sori of 2.7 cm and a motohaba of 3.52 cm; the photographs show a shinogi-zukuri blade with hi and a regular midare hamon. The original seller describes a tightly forged ko-itame jigane and a nioi-based hamon with the kobushigata-chōji typical of the school, with ko-nie along the edge. The tang keeps its shape in the photographs, has two mekugi-ana and is signed on the omote 備前国長船住横山祐包 (Bizen no kuni Osafune-jū Yokoyama Sukekane); on the ura, 友成五十八代孫 (Tomonari gojūhachi-dai son) and the date 弘化三年二月日 (Kōka sannen nigatsu hi). It carries NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers issued in August 2013, which record the same signature. According to the original seller, it comes in shirasaya.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers (2013)
- Signed and dated: 2nd month of Kōka 3 (1846)
- Signed as 58th-generation descendant of Tomonari
- Long blade, 79.8 cm nagasa
- Tang in original shape according to the photographs
Points to bear in mind
- No koshirae: according to the original seller, the blade comes in shirasaya, which does not appear in the photographs.
- The listing does not state the condition of the blade.
- The tang has a second mekugi-ana near its end.
- Part of the original seller's description (hira-zukuri shape and a different length) does not match the photographs or the papers.
Score
98.3 pointscurrent max. 255
-
Certificate
+50
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50
-
Tang
+20
Tang intact according to the photographs, with 2 mekugi-ana +20
-
Declared condition
−20
The original seller says nothing about the condition −20
-
Signature and date
+25
Signed and with an engraved date +25
-
Mounting
−15
No mounting −15
-
Blade
+15
79.8 cm: long blade, 74 cm or more +15
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
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
- 79.8 cm
- Sori
- 2.7 cm
- Tang
- Intact according to the photographs
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- No mounting
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Yokoyama Sukekane
- Period
- Shinshintō (1781-1876)
- Dating
- 2nd month of Kōka 3 (1846)
- Province
- Bizen
- Mekugi-ana
- 2
- Condition
- Condition not declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- Yes
- Motohaba
- 3,52 cm
- Motokasane
- 0,83 cm