Page 76 - Fine Japanese Art June 2, 2018 Galerie Zacke
P. 76

164                                                                                                                      165                                              tang is an ubu with two mekugi-ana, the yasurime is kiri, with
            A RARE CLOISONÉ ENAMEL TACHI KOSHIRAE                                                                                    A SPLENDID COURTLY TANTO, SIGNED KIYOMITSU       a rounded tang tip kurijiri. The mei (signature) is found on both
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            WITH BLADE                                                                                                               Japan, mounting from the Edo period, c. 17  to 18  century, blade   sides, on one side with date ⃫ Ḩ  ⚃ ⸜  Ḵ 㚰 㖍 (‘Genki 4  Year,
                                                                                                                                     dated 1573                                       2  Month, on a day’). Genki was the last era of the Muromachi
                                                                                                                                                                                      nd
            THE BLADE                                                                                                                                                                 period (1394-1573). The other side shows Bizen kuni ju Osafune
            Japan, Edo period, c. 17  century                                                                                        THE KOSHIRAE                                     KIYO-MITSU ⁁ ⇵ ⚳ ỷ 攟 凡 㶭 ⃱. The Kiyomitsu from Bizen
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                                                                                                                                     The entire mounting is perfectly congruous in all its parts and in   were a family that included over a dozen sword masters of this
            The blade has a lean shape with iori-mune and                                                                            original condition. All decorative elements crafted from shakudo   name.
            shinogi-zukuri, the hada is obscured, possibly                                                                           and glittering gold, dragons are the main motif. The saya (sheath)   The kozuka is also signed and was made by a well-known master
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            masame, the hamon is gunome with nie. The tang                                                                           is red-yellow lacquer with fine gold nashiji. The metal sayajiri   from around the second half of the 17  century. The inscription
            cannot be opened. The sheath is impaired towards                                                                         (scabbard tip) with a finely marked nanakoji plate and a gilded pair   on the blade reads Kobayashi Ise Kami KUNI-TERU ⮷ 㜿 Ẳ  ⊊  ⬰
            the tip.                               entire metal mounting with saya-  to the enamel. Minor damage around              of dragons. The kurigata is quite elegant as well.  ⚳ 廅.  Handle with nanakoji and dragons, one back and the other
                                                   jiri, semegane, tsuka-gashira, etc.   the Mekugi-nakago; the blade in             A mokko-gata tsuba, with an openworked hitsu and dense   gilded.
            NAGASA 47.2 CM                         is stylistically synchronous and the   extensively worn condition                 nanakoji. Showing the kirimon, the Paulownia Seals. The tanto’s   With black-brown teak stand.
                                                   ashi-kanamono offer another dragon   Provenance: From an Important                handle is made from metal, only the fuchi can be removed. Gilded
            THE MOUNTING                           motif, but this time engraved. The   Austrian private collection, acquired        dragons over nanakoji; the kashira is made in the style of courtly   TOTAL LENGTH 42.2 CM, TOTAL LENGTH IN KOSHIRAE 51.5 CM
            Japan, Meiji period                    obitori in original condition with   before 1930                                  swords. Dense, geometric decorations containing manji symbols.
                                                   leather and silk elements.                                                                                                         Condition: Excellent condition, extraordinarily well preserved
            The mounting is the main attractions in terms of                    Compare to a similar cloisonné                       NAGASA 31.4 CM                                   Provenance: From a German private collection
            quality here. The saya, tsuka and tsuba are fine   The mounting Kyoto workshop, in the   enamel scabbard, likely from the same
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            works in enamel cloisonné showing furious celestial   style of Namikawa Yasuyuki.   workshop, sold at Bonhams 16  May    THE BLADE                                        Estimate EUR 10.000,-
            dragons in the clouds. The background is black,                     2013, lot 551.                                       The type of blade is shinogi-zukuri, with iori-mune; fine mokume-  Starting price EUR 5.000,-
            the dragons are grey, bluish to light brown. They   TOTAL LENGTH 71.5 CM                                                 hada; the hamon is a balanced, high notare to gunome. The
            are scaled, coiled and have fangs, barbels and                      Estimate EUR 2.000,-
            grim expressions. The same motif on the mokko-  Condition: The mounting in generally   Starting price EUR 1.000,-
            gata tsuba which shows four inome excerpts. The   good condition, with expected wear




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