(MINO) DAIDO (fss-905)
(MINO) DAIDO (fss-905) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale Shodai Daido was a smith working in the Mino tradition, and achieved the title of Mutsu no Kami in 1574. His work period dates to the transition years in the Keicho era where Koto gave way to Shinto. His history states that he was the personal swordsmith to Oda Nobunaga who employed smiths of the Mino tradition (the rise of his armies contributed to the spread of the Mino style throughout Japan, and its large contribution to what would become the Shinto style). He reportedly moved to Kyoto with his sons Iga no Kami Kanemichi (Jo-saku), Rai Kinmichi (Jo-saku), Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi (Jo-saku), and Etchu no Kami Masatoshi (Jo-jo saku) making swords for Nobunaga. They would become the Kyoto Gokaji, or the Five Swordsmiths of Kyoto. All of them have sharpness ratings of at least wazamono, so they made blades well in keeping of the warrior tradition of Mino, and from the success and fame of his sons it would seem that Daido was a very good teacher. Daido began his career with the name of Kanemichi, which explains the names of several of his sons. He was granted the “O” character 大from emperor Ogimachi. After using the name O-Kanemichi, he later changed to “Daido”, using the alternate reading of the 大 character. Fujishiro seems to interpret the two signatures as two different smiths, though he records this story under Kanemichi. Kanemichi is dated to 1558 (Eiroku) and listed at Chu-jo Saku and Daido to 1596 (Keicho) at Jo-saku so there was an improvement in skill over time. SHIN-GUNTO SWORDS...
SEKI KANEKADO (fss-904)
(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...
Fujishima Tomoshige Den (fss-902)
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...
Osafune Morikage (fss-901)
Osafune Morikage (fss-901) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This blade is a magnifiscent example of a fine Koto period piece made by Osafune Morikage. The hada is a beautiful swirling mix of itame and mokume loaded and covered in ji-nie. Chikei can be seen amongst the brilliant ji-nie covered hada. The hamon is covered in nie with lively streaks of sunagashi and kinsuji. The boshi is hakikake. The quality is very high on this sword and many of his swords have received Juyo papers. This sword has not been submitted yet to Juyo shinsa and is a good candidate. The koshirae is very imposingh. The saya is in a luxurious black lacquered finish. The fittings are various motif of samurai men. The tsuba is of an irregular shape in iron with a motif of pine trees. The tsuka ito is a rich blue color over a white same (rayskin). The sageo is a blue to match the ito. The seppa and habaki are gold washed. This sword comes with TOKUBETSU HOZON papers from the NBTHK. Information on school:The founder of the Bizen Ômiya (備前大宮) School is generally thought to have been Kunimori (国盛). He was active around the Bun-ô (文應) era or 1260 during the Kamakura period. One theory says that he came from Inokuma Taigû a shrine in the Ômiya district of the Yamashiro Province, thus giving this school its name. Another theory says that he went to the Ômiya district of Bizen, hence the name Ômiya School. Whatever the reason, since works by the Kamakura smiths of this school are non-existent, the swords we...About Moses Becerra
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