Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Owari katana signed 伯耆守藤原信高 (Hōki no Kami Fujiwara Nobutaka), with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers, a complete koshirae and shirasaya.
Edo-period katana forged in Owari by the Hōki no Kami Nobutaka line. The tang is signed 伯耆守藤原信高 (Hōki no Kami Fujiwara Nobutaka) and, according to the photographs, keeps its original shape with a single mekugi-ana. The original seller attributes it to the third generation and places it around the Enpō era, in the late 1670s; the signature was used in the same style over several generations. It measures 71.4 cm in nagasa with 1.4 cm of sori: a wide, thick blade with a slightly extended kissaki. The photographs show a gunome-midare hamon; according to the original seller it is nie-based, with deep nioiguchi, sunagashi and kinsuji, over a well-forged ko-itame jigane, with a midarekomi bōshi. It comes in shirasaya and with a complete koshirae: a round iron tsuba pierced with a chrysanthemum and gold inlay, dragon menuki with gold iroe, copper fuchi-kashira carved with peonies and signed 宗春 (Muneharu) with kaō, and a black lacquered saya. It holds NBTHK 特別保存刀剣 (tokubetsu hozon tōken) papers, no. 121964, issued in 1991.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers
- Signed 伯耆守藤原信高 (Hōki no Kami Fujiwara Nobutaka) on a tang the photographs show intact
- Complete koshirae with fuchi-kashira signed 宗春 (Muneharu)
- Also supplied in shirasaya
- Wide, robust 71.4 cm blade
Points to bear in mind
- The third-generation attribution comes from the original seller: the signature alone does not settle it.
- The listing does not state the blade's condition or when it was polished.
- The koshirae is undated, and the mirror-lacquered saya without wear appears relacquered in the photographs.
Score
115 pointscurrent max. 255
-
Certificate
+50
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50
-
Tang
+20
Tang intact according to the photographs +20
-
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 · signed fittings: 1 +10 · relacquered saya −10
-
Blade
+10
71.4 cm: within the usable range +10
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
Price
+30
Price: the more affordable, the more points +30
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
- 71.4 cm
- Sori
- 1.4 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
- Enpō era (1673–1681)
- Province
- Owari
- Mekugi-ana
- 1
- Condition
- Condition not declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- No
- Motohaba
- 3,25 cm
- Sakihaba
- 2,13 cm
- Motokasane
- 0,74 cm
- Blade weight
- 835 g
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