December 10, 2019 Edged Weapon, Armor & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2019
The broad shinogi tsukuri blade with characteristic Masahide choji hamon showing incredibly complex and masterful work within the temper line itself. Good yakidashi (straightening of the choji temper) towards the ha-machi (base notch). The bo-hi are perfectly cut as befits a master horimono carver like Masahide. The nakago (tang) with full Masahide signature, date, and custom order and deeply sunk Masahide cartouche. Sujikai yasuri-me (file marks) and typical Masahide jiri (end of tang). The sword is mounted in excellent, possibly the original samurai mounts, with fine iron fuchi-kashira, presentation quality black dyed same, highly sophisticated brown silk wrap, designed to expose a grinning shi shi (dog) menuki on one side and a flower menuki on the other. The saya is beautifully lacquered in a spiral pattern of interwoven red and black roiro ending in an iron kojiri. CONDITION: Blade is in full, bright, probably 19th century sashikomi polish showing all details. Ubu nakago is excellent throughout. Mounts rate fine with no significant damage, Scabbard is good with the exception of the kurikata which shows repair. Suishinshi Masahide is one of only three artists of the period rated as sai-jo saku (the highest rating), the others being Minamoto Kiyomaro and Naotane. Fujishiro devotes four entire pages to illustrate his signatures. Although we believe this magnificent samurai sword by one of the most renowned makers to be an autograph work we cannot guarantee it as it does not have an NBTHK certificate, just as Sotheby's or Christie's cannot guarantee a painting by Rembrandt without a certificate from the Rembrandt Research Project. MZ