Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Katana by Hirotsuna, a smith of Chikugo, made to order and dated the 8th month of Tenpō 14 (1843), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers, lacquered mounting and shirasaya.
Shinshintō katana by Hirotsuna, a smith of Kurume in Chikugo province. According to the original seller, he was the son of Kaga no Suke Kiyohiro, trained in Edo under Chōunsai Tsunatoshi, from whom he received the character "tsuna", and later signed Kiyotsuna. The blade has a nagasa of 69.6 cm with 1.9 cm of sori, a motohaba of 3.15 cm and a kasane of 0.78 cm; the photographs show a shinogi-zukuri form with a medium kissaki and a gently undulating hamon. The tang, which the photographs show intact with two mekugi-ana, is signed 筑後国住人檍五郎宏綱応吉田重章需鍛之 (probable reading: Chikugo no kuni jūnin Aoki Gorō Hirotsuna Yoshida Shigeaki no motome ni ōjite kore o kitau), a commission inscription, and dated on the ura 天保十四年八月日 (Tenpō jūyon-nen hachigatsu hi). It comes with a mounting with black lacquered saya, an openwork iron tsuba with pine and bamboo, a tsuka with green ito and gilt dragon menuki, which the listing neither dates nor describes, and with its shirasaya. The NBTHK 特別保存刀剣 (Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken) paper, no. 1026237, is photographed with the piece.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper, no. 1026237
- Signed with a commission inscription and dated Tenpō 14 (1843)
- Tang intact according to the photographs, with two mekugi-ana
- Complete lacquered mounting and shirasaya
- Chikugo smith trained under Chōunsai Tsunatoshi, according to the original seller
Points to bear in mind
- The listing does not state the condition or polish of the blade.
- The mounting is neither dated nor described; the ito and saya lacquer look recent in the photographs.
Score
104.3 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
Mounting the original seller says nothing about 0 · relacquered saya −10 · rewrapped ito −5
-
Blade
+10
69.6 cm: within the usable range +10
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
Price
+29.3
Price: the more affordable, the more points +29.3
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
- 69.6 cm
- Sori
- 1.9 cm
- Tang
- Intact according to the photographs
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- Mounting documented only in the photographs
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Aoki Hirotsuna
- Period
- Shinshintō (1781-1876)
- Dating
- 8th month of Tenpō 14 (1843)
- Province
- Chikugo
- Mekugi-ana
- 2
- Condition
- Condition not declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- Yes
- Motohaba
- 3,15 cm
- Sakihaba
- 2,22 cm
- Motokasane
- 0,78 cm
- Sakikasane
- 0,55 cm
A new mounting or a polish for your blade? Custom koshirae · Polishing