by Moses Becerra | May 15, 2022
(SEKI) KANEKADO (fss-904) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This is a very interesting signed katana in the Koto Mino tradition and of the late muromachi era. It is in an original polish. The overall sugata of this sword is impressive and the hamon is loaded with activity. The hamon contains plentiful nie and togare-ba. The hada has a milky slick looking finish and forged very well with some areas of O- hada mixed in. This blade comes in mountings. The furniture are made of silver and in good condition. The fuchi kashira are modern and of waves with dragon menuki. Many Chinese believed the dragon held, or at least chased, the sun, and many drawings depict this as a flaming red ball. However, over the years, this sun changed color from red to a silvery-pearl color, and gradually the ball came to be considered a flaming pearl, known as the night shining pearl. It is with this that the dragon is almost invariably associated in art.The link between serpentine shaped dragons and the pearl is reflected in a legend that states that Chi Liang, the Marquis of Sui, who was a Minister of State, was out walking one day, and found a wounded snake to which he gave medicine and saved its life. Sometime later, he saw the snake with a brilliant pearl in its mouth. The snake said ‘I am the son of His Majesty the Dragon, and I am indebted to you for the preservation of my life, and I have brought this pearl to thank you for your kindness.’ The Minister accepted the...
by Moses Becerra | Apr 14, 2022
Fujishima Tomoshige Den (fss-902) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This sword was awarded the kanteisho prior to polish. It received an attribution to TOMOSHIGE. There is a red Shumei at the bottom of the tang attributing it to YOSHINOBU. This blade if resubmitted may be attributed to an even higher ranked smith now that its in pristine polish but it’s not a necessity. The hada is a beautiful swirling mix of itame and mokume loaded and covered in ji-nie. Chikei abounds! The hamon is nie laden with brilliant streaks of sunagashi and kinsuji. The boshi is Kaen with hakikake. The koshirae is equally impressive. The saya is in a Ishime finish. The fittings are all adorned in a motif of samurai and horses. The Nanako is very nice on the tsuba. The tsuka ito is a bright orchid color over a black lacquered same (rayskin). The sageo is a purplish red hue. The seppa are gold washed. The kodzuka is of a man with horse in fields. The Habaki is gold foiled and is of high quality also. This Koto era sword comes with NTHK KANTEI-SHO papers. A koto period wakazashi by the Fujishima Tomoshige line of smiths who had ten generations of the name during the Koto period and six generations up until the Shintoshinto period. A splendid wavy gunome togariba majiri hamon (temper line) typical of the Fujishima School captures the eye and imagination. Hailing from the artistic province of Kaga (now Kanazawa), the Fujishima School is considered one that combines characteristics of the five major traditions. Fujishima school is a descendant of Rai school that moved to Gaga province. They...
by Moses Becerra | Apr 5, 2022
(Owari) Masahide (fss-900) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This is a wonderful tanto made by Masahide of Owari province. This blade is fully signed and dated by the smith and also has fine horimono/carvings. The hada has running masame that is forged tightly. The hamon has good hataraki/activity and is in nie deki with some nioi mixed in. This very fine tanto also comes with original mounts that add greatly to this tanto. The scabbard/saya has very lovely lacquer work and is very elegant. The handle has a silk string wrap that is also original to this blade. The fuchi, kashira and koiguchi are made of shakudo that is very rich looking. They almost look like polished horn but they are metal (shakudo). This is a type of mounts/koshirai that is in the best Japanese style and feels very rich. This blade comes with papers attesting to the signature and quality. Mei: OWARI NO KUNI MASAHIDE Date: MEIJI SANNEN HACHIGATSU HI (A day in August, 1870) Nagasa: 12″ inches Width at the ha-machi: 31.1 mm Thickness at the mune-machi: 6.2 mm Construction: Hira zukuri Mune: Iori Nakago: Ubu Kitae: Masame Hamon: Suguba Boshi: Maru Condition: Good polish W Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Image This sword is on consignment. Special Sale Price Sold On Hold Asking price: $5,200.00 (shipping and insurance included) Email us if your interested in this item and remember to include the order number for this item: fss-900. NihontoAntiques@comcast.net How To Order Information Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Image KANTEISHO No. 3853321. WAKIZASHI Mei: OWARI NO KUNI MASAHIDEMEIJI SANNEN HACHIGATSU HI (A day in August, 1870)Length: 1 shaku (Last two ji...