(Inoue Shinkai) Kunisada (2nd) (fss-816)

Item description:

We are pleased to showcase this exceptional Inoue Shinkai Kunisada blade. Kunisada (Shinkai) is a saijo-saku level swordsmith, the highest level that can be achieved for a swordsmith. Inoue Shinkai is considered one of the best of the Osaka Shinto smiths and this blade shows his incredible workmanship. The Jihada is a beautiful blend of well worked mokume and itame. Chikei and ji-nie can be found in abundance. The hamon has a lovely glowing nioi-guchi frosted with ko-nie throughout. Small inner workings of kinsuji can be seen. The boshi follows the hamon in maru which is also sprinkled with a fine layer of ko-nie. The blade is ubu with one hole and signed “Izumi No Kami Kunisada” and the yasurime is in Sujikai stye and is in perfect condition with a wonderful patina.

The koshirae for this blade is outstanding. The mounts are a deeply carved shakudo with gold of a floral and arabesque pattern and theme. The saya is in the Togidashi Makie style with minor damage from use and and has an antique white silk sageo to match the string wrapped tsuka. String wrapping in silk such as this is of the best quality and is generally done only on the best of swords. The Same (rayskin) is of a lovely antique ivory color with large nodules. There is kodzuka and kogai. The kodzuka has a Mt. Fuji theme to match the Mt. Fuji shaped habaki.

There is a presentation box with Hakogaki dated to Taisho (1924).  This is very unique and historic by itself.  Most swords do not come in kiri wood boxes and if they do they are not generally dated with such an old appraisal.

The shirasaya has sayagaki from Tanobe as the sword has passed to tokubetsu hozon kai.  Submitting this sword to juyo shinsa is always possible and  many of Shikai wakazashi have passed juyo shinsa. A wonderful package for the connoisseur of Japanese swords.

Inoue Shinkai was active from Kanei 7th period to
Tenna 2nd period Settsu. He was active at Settsu until Tenna 2nd year.
His father was Izumi no kami Kunisada. His real name is Inoue Hachirobe Yoshitsugu.
He was a famous sword smith at the time as one of the two greatest authorities along with Tsuda Echizon no kami Sukehiro.
He was called the “Osaka Masamune”. While there are many Sukehiro pieces extant
it was rare to see Shinkai pieces. It is the most cherished of swords for sword connoisseur. Especially collectors of the Shinto period.
He was allowed to put the chrysanthemum crest on the swords that
he had presented to the court.
He changed his name to Shinkai at Kanbun 12th year.

He had exceeded his father’s work quality. Inoue Shikai is the second son of first generation Izumi no kami Kunisada.
In his early days, he used the same signature as his father before him, “Izumi no kami Kunisada”
and helped making his father’s swords and also made swords on his father’s behalf.
 The jigane is excellent
and the hamon is truly bright. It is an excellent piece. The jigane is of the best quality.
There is deep nioiuchi.
The 2nd generation Kunisada or Inoue Shinkai was the second son of Izumi no kami Kunisada.

  • Mei: Izumi no Kami Kunisada (2nd Generation=Inoue Shinkai)
  • Date: Edo (1650-1661)
  • Nagasa: 19 inches
  • Sori: 4.5 mm
  • Width at the ha-machi: 30.6 mm
  • Width at the yokote: 21.9 mm
  • Thickness at the mune-machi: 6.2 mm
  • Construction: Shinogi zukuri
  • Mune: Iori
  • Nakago: Ubu
  • Kitae: Itame/mokume
  • Hamon: Midare 
  • Boshi: Maru
  • Condition: Good polish

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Presentation Box Attribution from 1924:

御脇差 
井上和泉守國貞
真改初期作明暦比
刃長壱尺五寸五分有之
大正甲子如月上浣
明憲庵主「花押」

Go-wakizashi
Inoue Izumi no Kami Kunisada
Shinkai shoki-saki Meireki goro
Hachō 1 shaku 5 sun 5 bu kore ari
Taishō kinoe-ne kisaragi jōkan
Myōken’anshu + kaō

Wakizashi
Inoue Izumi no Kami Kunisada
Early work of Shinkai from around Meireki (1655-1658)
Blade length ~ 47.0 cm
First third of February in the year of the rat of the Taisho7 era (1924)
Head of the Myōken’an + kaō

Saya Attribution by Michihiro Tanobe:

井上和泉守國貞
真改初期作而時代明暦・萬治頃
出来此期ノ典型也
刃長壹尺六寸弱有之
辛巳暦卯月下浣
田氏探山鍳誌「花押」

Inoue Izumi no Kami Kunisada
Shinkai shoki-saki shikamo jidai Meireki, Manji goro
Deki kono ki no tenkei nari
Hachō 1 shaku 6 sun chaku kore ari
Kanoto-hebidoshi uzuki kakan
Den-uji Tanzan kanshi + kaō

 Inoue Izumi no Kami Kunisada
Early work of Shinkai from around Meireki (1655-1658) and Manji (1658-1661).
The dekiis typical for that period [of his artistic phase].
Blade length a little under 48 cm

Examined and written by Tanzan [Tanobe Michihiro] in the last third of April of the year of the snake (2001) + kaō

 

This sword is on consignment.
Special Sale Price
Sold
On Hold

Asking price: $38,500.00

(shipping and insurance included)

Email us if your interested in this item and remember to include the order number for this item: fss-816

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NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON KAI

Kantei-Sho(鑑定書) – Appraisal

wakizashi, signed:       Izumi no Kami Kunisada (和泉守国貞) (nidai, 二代)

                                    Izumi no Kami Kunisada (2ndgeneration = Inoue Shinkai)

nagasa ~ 48.3 cm

 According to the result of the shinsa committee of our society, we judge this work as authentic and rank it as Tokubetsu-Hozon Tōken.

April 5, 2001

[Foundation]Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, NBTHK (日本美術刀劍保存協會)

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