Page 96 - Fine Japanese Art October 28, 2020 Galerie Zacke

91 | HIROTAKA:
A WAKIZASHI
IN SHIRASAYA

By Hoki Hirotaka, signed Hoki no
kami fujiwara Hirotaka
Japan, mid-17th century, Edo period
(1615-1868)

The blade with shinogi-zukuri and
iori mune, the hamon with irregular
gunome and with nioi. The hada is
masame. The nakago (tang) with
two mekugi-ana, the yasurime is
sujikai, the tip is iri-yamagata. One
side shows the inscription Echizen
ju (‘lives in Echizen’) and the other
shows the signature Hoki no
kami fujiwara HIROTAKA, with the
Hirotaka of this name remarkably
written with completely different
characters than one would usually
expect. This swordsmith worked
during the mid-17th century.
NAGASA 53.5 cm, blade LENGTH
67.6 cm, total LENGTH 76 cm

Condition: The blade is in excellent
condition with very minor surface
wear.
Provenance: Hungarian private
collection.
Estimate EUR 1,200
Starting price EUR 600