Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
The piece
Katana signed by Nagatsugu of Osafune in Bizen province, from around the Tenmei era, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers, a lacquered mounting and a shirasaya.
Katana forged by Nagatsugu, a smith of Osafune in Bizen province, whom the paper places around the Tenmei era (天明頃, Tenmei-goro), in the shinshintō period. According to the original seller, the blade has a nagasa of 68.4 cm with 1.0 cm of sori, a motohaba of 3.11 cm and a motokasane of 0.89 cm, and is presented as a rare and well-executed work by this smith. The photographs show grooves (hi) on both sides. The tang is ubu, with a single mekugi-ana, and bears the signature 備前国長船住長次 (Bizen-kuni Osafune-jū Nagatsugu). The blade comes with a one-piece gilt habaki. The photographs show a complete mounting: black lacquered saya with green sageo, tsuka with same and black wrapping, gilt menuki, fuchi-kashira decorated in gold and a pierced iron tsuba; the seller neither describes nor dates it. A wooden shirasaya is also included. The NBTHK has certified it Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken.
Strong points
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper
- Ubu tang signed 備前国長船住長次 (Bizen-kuni Osafune-jū Nagatsugu)
- Complete black lacquered mounting and wooden shirasaya
- A blade of the Osafune tradition in the shinshintō period
Points to bear in mind
- The listing says nothing about the condition or polish of the blade.
- The mounting is neither described nor dated by the seller; the saya shows lacquer of recent appearance.
- The date is approximate (around the Tenmei era), per the paper; the blade is not dated.
Score
91 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
−10
Mounting the original seller says nothing about 0 · relacquered saya −10
-
Blade
+5
68.4 cm: close to the usable range +5
-
Shirasaya
+5
With a storage shirasaya +5
-
Price
+21
Price: the more affordable, the more points +21
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
- 68.4 cm
- Sori
- 1 cm
- Tang
- Intact (ubu)
- Certificate
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
- Mounting
- Mounting documented only in the photographs
- Storage shirasaya
- Yes
- Smith
- Osafune Nagatsugu
- Period
- Shinshintō (1781-1876)
- Dating
- Tenmei era (1781–1789)
- Province
- Bizen
- Mekugi-ana
- 1
- Condition
- Condition not declared
- Signed
- Yes
- With an engraved date
- No
- Motohaba
- 3,11 cm
- Sakihaba
- 2,11 cm
- Motokasane
- 0,89 cm
- Sakikasane
- 0,52 cm
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