Ordering Number: AS24304

Tanto in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)
Signature: Muramasa
村正

Sayagaki: Written by Dr. Kunzan
Seishu Kuwana Ju Muramasa
Blade length 9 sun 9 bu, good piece of work
written by Kunzan in the house of Kugayama in November 1985

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked Saijo Saku for Muramasa.

Habaki: Gold Foil Double-layered Habaki
Blade Length: 29.9 cm (11.8in)
Curvature: 0.3 cm (0.12in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.01 cm (1.19in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.50 cm (0.20 in)
Sword Weight: 220 grams
Era: Muromachi Period

Shape: wide and thin Mitsumune long Tanto. The Nakago is shaped like the belly of pregnant fish, which is characteristic of Muramasa.
Jigane: The mixture of Ko-itame and Mokume with clear texture.
Hamon: Gunome midare with intense Nie with two sides matching each other. Boshi is rounded.

Features: The Muramasa was a school of swordsmiths active in Kuwana, Ise Province, whose founder was Sengo Muramasa. The sword had been popular since that time for its sharpness and unique blade pattern with uniform front and back sides, but in the Edo period, the Tokugawa family considered Muramasa to be an abomination, and some of them were disposed of or had their inscriptions removed.

Aoi Art’s Comment: This work is a typical Muramasa piece with the front and back blades aligned, and the　Jigane is beautiful. The inscrption is clearly engraved, making it a rare piece.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Paper
Aoi Art Estimation Paper
Whole Oshigata

Auction Starting Price:8,500,000JPY

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