Ordering number: 23138

Wakizashi in Shirasaya(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Shirakawa Kashin Masashige
白川家臣正繁
Kansei Kaigen 8 Gatsu Hi TInamu Yagi-Shi Korewo Motomeru Oite Buyo Surugadai Korewo Tsukuru 　　　
寛政改元八月日　因八木氏之需　於武陽駿岱作之

Shinshinto: JyoJyo saku: Iwaki
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo saku ranking.
The blade is polished.
Habaki: Gold foiled double Habaki
Blade length:51.5cm or 20.27inches.
Sori:0.6cm or 0.23inches.
Mekugi:1
Width at the hamachi:2.93cm or 1.15inches.
Width at the Kissaki:2.2cm or 0.86inches.
Kasane:0.81cm or 0.31inches.
The weight of the sword:585grams
Era: Kansei 1, the Edo period
Shape: The blade is slightly broad and thick with slightly shallow Sori and longer Kissaki. Well-shaped O-Wakizashi.
Jigane: Koitamehada is grained well with Chikei. Elaborate Jigane.
Hamon: Niedeki Hamon flows the same on the both sides. Nioikuchi is deep.
It becomes Gunomemidare. Boshi turns back like Ichimai-shape and becomes deep Yakisage.

Special feature: Masashige is a younger brother of Ujishige 3rd.
It seems that after the death of Ujishige 2nd, two of them used Mei of Ujishige.
There is a record that his older brother passed away early, so he could have been weak
and the younger brother was the actual 3rd Ujishige. He was also known as Asashichi,
and his first Mei is Ujishige, and later he changed it to Masashige. He served
Matsudaira Sadanobu and lived in Edo. He was approved as Kai Kami on the 5th
of April, Kyowa 3. He was given 2 characters of 神妙(Shin Myo) from Matsudaira
Sadanobu and engraved them to his masterpieces. His style is Toranba,
or Hamon of the blade that was famous in those days. He was also very good
at carving. This Nakago is in very good condition.

From Aoi Art: This work has a very rare signature and is important as historical article.
Masashige was an employed swordstmith of Shirakawa family and he made this blade
for the order by Mr. Yagi in August of Kansei 1. We truly recommend this to you.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token paper
Aoi Art estimation paper:whole Oshigata　by　Ayaka Tsuruta

Price:650,000 JPY-.

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