Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Early Edo katana signed 常陸守源宗重 (Hitachi no Kami Minamoto Muneshige), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers, a mounting with a ribbed red saya, and shirasaya.
A blade by Hitachi no Kami Muneshige, an Osaka Shintō smith active in the Kanbun era (1661–1673). According to the original seller, he came from Harima province, settled in Osaka and was a pupil of the first-generation Tsuda Sukehiro, for whom he is said to have forged some blades. The tang, intact as far as the photographs show, with a single mekugi-ana, bears on the omote the signature 常陸守源宗重 (Hitachi no Kami Minamoto Muneshige); the ura is plain. The photographs show bōhi on both sides and a gently undulating hamon. Nagasa 67.6 cm, sori 1.2 cm. The mounting has a ribbed red-lacquered saya (kizami-zaya), an iron tsuba inlaid in gold with a fuji-karakusa motif, fuchi-kashira and kōgai in the same motif, and peony menuki; the seller describes it but does not date it. A shirasaya is included. The NBTHK certified the blade Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken on 24 May 2021 (no. 1015310).
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers (2021)
- Intact tang signed 常陸守源宗重 (Hitachi no Kami Minamoto Muneshige)
- Osaka Shintō smith, a pupil of the first Tsuda Sukehiro according to the original seller
- Mounting with a ribbed red saya and gold-inlaid iron fittings in a fuji-karakusa motif
- Comes with shirasaya
Points to bear in mind
- The original seller notes a couple of kitae-kizu on the blade, without locating them.
- The saya is partly damaged through age; the photographs show chips in the lacquer.
- The mounting is neither dated nor papered.
Score
115.1 pointscurrent max. 255
-
Certificate
+50
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50
-
Tang
+20
Tang intact according to the photographs +20
-
Declared condition
−5
The original seller declares flaws 0 · small kitae-ware, away from the edge −5
-
Signature and date
+15
Signed, with no engraved date +15
-
Mounting
+5
Mounting described, undated +5
-
Blade
+5
67.6 cm: close to the usable range +5
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
Price
+20.1
Price: the more affordable, the more points +20.1
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
- 67.6 cm
- Sori
- 1.2 cm
- Tang
- Intact according to the photographs
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Period
- Shintō (1596-1780)
- Dating
- Kanbun era (1661–1673)
- Province
- Harima
- Mekugi-ana
- 1
- Condition
- Minor flaws declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- No
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