(Inoue Shinkai) Kunisada (2nd) (fss-816)
(Inoue Shinkai) Kunisada (2nd) (fss-816) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale 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...
ISHIDO DEN (fss-812)
ISHIDO DEN (fss-812) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale Item description: When first viewing this blade you can see a resemblance of an Ichimonji blade. Fine utsuri covers the blade as well as Ji-nie. The chiji midare is very active and it appears as flames dancing along the blade. There is tobyaki and yubashiri causing a hitatsura like hamon. The hada is a finely worked itame. An exquisite blade and one that never tires of viewing. The koshirae is a high gloss black lacquer with a gloss black lacquered Same(rayskin). The tsuka-ito and sageo are a matching gold in color. the tsuba is of a scenic nature. The menuki are of shakudo and gold and the fuchi/kashira are of a geometric design. A beautiful gilded 2-piece habaki was made for this sword to create a great package and wonderful piece. The stub is also signed. The Ishido Kei had its foundations in Omi Province. Omi Province was the home of many well-known smiths from the late Kamakura period into the Nanbokucho period. Some of the more famous smiths were Takagi Sadamune (高木貞宗) and Kanro Toshinaga. They had many descendants but very few of their works survived so that by the time the Tokugawa period began, there were not many of these descendants left in this province. Around the Meio Era (1492), many of the Osafune-kaji from Bizen came to Omi and made swords thus breathing new life into this area. Among these was Sukenaga (助長) who moved to this area and is said to have founded the Ishido Kei. During the early years of the Edo period...
SHITAHARA CHIKASHIGE DEN (fss-811)
SHITAHARA CHIKASHIGE DEN (fss-811) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale Item description: This sword has been attributed to the Shitahara school by the NTHK shinsa. There are many details which point this blade to this school, including the unique jihada which has a circular swirling pattern and is known as uzumaki-hada or shitahara hada. The dark jigane is also found in Shitahara blades and is a trait of this school. The Shitahara school is a well regarded school with great smiths. A rare longish Hirazukiri blade almost Katana in length this blade sports an attractive Bohi on both sides. Technically an O-Wakazashi this blade feels and looks like a katana. It is very light and well balance. The hamon is full of hataraki such as sunagashi, kinsugi and more.The hamon is an O-gunome based in Notare. The swirling mokume or Uzumaki-hada is a sight to see and appreciate. The tang is text book Shitahara and a solid kantei point. A beautiful and unique rare blade by the founders of this school. The blade is in shirasaya and there is a full set of high ranking military mounts that the blade was originally found in. The tsuka is adorned with a family mon of bamboo theme. History on the Shitahara school: Founded around the Eisho (1504) and Kyoroku (1528) eras in the later Muromachi period, a swordsmith named Tajima (no) Kami Chikashige from the Yamamoto clan, is credited with the foundation of the Shitahara school in what is now the Hajioji district of Metropolitan Tokyo. It is thought that he was employed by Oishi Sadahisa, a high ranking retainer of the Yamaouchi....
Bizen Sukesada (fss 806)
Bizen Sukesada (fss 806) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale Item description: This fine wakazashi has great workmanship and a beautiful gunome/choji midare hamon almost hitatsura on one side especially. This blade is ubu and signed and dated. A spectacular collection of activity with Yubashiri, Tobyaki, Sunagashi, Kinsuji, chikei and much more. Ji-nie and utsuri can be seen. A fine example of almost every activity can be seen and appreciated within this blade in the Bizen tradition. It is in a very nice polish with a very nice set of koshirae. Look at the pictures, they not do justice to this sword. The hamon is very nicely done with a thick nioi-guchi. It has many hataraki and ara-nie appear. The hada is very well forged with a milky looking color of itame with mokume. Some minor coarseness visible in the Jihada. The boshi is ko-maru with kaen like finish. This early wakazashi is signed and dated and also has an elegant shape and is very well balanced. The mounts are in very good shape and add to the overall value of this sword. The fittings are sound and have a more simple and traditional look and display very well. Overall this is a fine Japanese wakazashi. The Fuchi-Kashira are a neutral shakudo. The menuki and kodzuka are of a floral motif. The mounts are of good quality from tsuka to saya. The floral theme of the menuki and kodzuka beautifully finish the tsuka and saya with an exceptional deep blue tsukaito wrap. The saya is an exquisite black lacquer . The floral motif was often used as a theme for Asian art. Mythological subjects and auspicious symbols...About Moses Becerra
With over 30 years of experience and dedication to this art you can count on his integrity, professionalism, passion and honesty to work with new and old clients every day.