Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Shinshintō katana of the Yokoyama school of Bizen Osafune, signed on Sukenaga's behalf by Sukehisa, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers, mounting and shirasaya.
Katana of the Yokoyama school, the Osafune branch that revived the chōji temper line in Bizen during the shinshintō period. The tang is ubu, with a single mekugi-ana, and bears on the omote the signature 横山加賀介藤原祐永 (Yokoyama Kaga no Suke Fujiwara Sukenaga) and on the ura 備前長船住人 (Bizen Osafune jūnin). The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper records it as 祐久代銘 (Sukehisa daimei): the signature was cut by Sukehisa on behalf of Sukenaga, whose son and successor he was, according to the original seller. The seller places it in the Tenpō era and describes a jūka-chōji midare hamon; the photographs show clustered chōji along the entire blade. Nagasa 68.5 cm, sori 2.1 cm. It comes with a mounting: lobed yellow-metal tsuba, tsuka with same and black ito, menuki, iron fuchi-kashira and kojiri, and a black lacquered saya with gold flecks; the listing names its parts without dating it. A shirasaya is also included and visible in the photographs.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper, photographed
- Ubu tang with a single mekugi-ana, inscribed on both faces
- Sukehisa daimei recognised on the paper: a documented link between two Yokoyama generations
- Clustered chōji hamon visible in the photographs
- Supplied with both mounting and shirasaya
Points to bear in mind
- The signature is a daimei: cut by Sukehisa, not by Sukenaga's own hand
- The mounting is neither dated nor papered
- The listing does not state the condition of the blade
Score
104.3 pointscurrent max. 255
-
Certificate
+50
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50
-
Tang
+25
Tang intact according to the seller at origin +25
-
Declared condition
−20
The original seller says nothing about the condition −20
-
Signature and date
+15
Signed, with no engraved date +15
-
Mounting
+5
Mounting described, undated +5
-
Blade
+5
68.5 cm: close to the usable range +5
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
Price
+19.3
Price: the more affordable, the more points +19.3
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
- 68.5 cm
- Sori
- 2.1 cm
- Tang
- Intact (ubu)
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Yokoyama Sukenaga
- Period
- Shinshintō (1781-1876)
- Dating
- Tenpō era (1830–1844)
- Province
- Bizen
- Mekugi-ana
- 1
- Condition
- Condition not declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- No
- Length when mounted
- 100 cm
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