Page 51 - Fine Japanese Art November 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

33 | A SUPERB KANEIYE SCHOOL SUNOBI 34 | A RARE ENJU KOTO SCHOOL
KOTO TANTO WITH DAIMYO KOSHIRAE YOROIDOSHI TANTO
AND SHIRASAYA
Japan, Koto, 1570, late Muromachi period (1336-1573)
By the Kaneiye School, signed Kaneiye
Japan, Koto, 1570, late Muromachi period (1336-1573)
A very sturdy and solid armor-piercing blade that was originally a
kikuchi yari, a Japanese spear, before it was shortened to a tanto.
Accompanied by Kanteisho (Genuine Swords) authentication Accompanied by a certificate from the NBTHK attesting to the
papers from the NBHTK. sword’s quality and authenticity.
The blade: The blade:
Hira-zukuri with mokume hada appearing like wood burls. The The hamon is hoso suguha, a string-like temper line. The jigane is a
hamon is gunome midare with nie deki, tobiyaki and yubashiri. Ara coarse itame nagare (flowing wood grain) combined with masame
nie, large martensite particles, within the hamon and the mune. The at the edge, which along with the shirake utsuri is very characteristic
niji (two-character) mei reads KANEIYE. Higaki-yasurime, a fence-like of the Enju school.
file pattern, can be found on the nakago.
The mounting:
The mounting: The attractive Higo-style koshirae was made during the late Edo
The daimyo koshirae was crafted between the Muromachi and period (1615-1868). The fuchi and kashira are made from shakudo
Momoyama periods, between 1580 and 1600. The black lacquered and show oars on top of fine nanako. The menuki is a coiled dragon
saya shows large gold lacquer kirimons, the mon of the Toyotomi in gold under the brown-lacquered tsuka-ito. A high-quality same
clan. The kozuka is made from shakudo and shows carved lies under the wrap. The interesting and unusual iron katchushi
kanji characters on the blade in commemoration of the master (armorsmith) tsuba shows a paulownia inlaid in copper on the rim.
swordsmith Shizu Saburo Kaneuji, founder of the Mino tradition. The saya is lacquered in a base of aogai (powdered abalone) with
The excellent handle is decorated with gold karashishi amidst chrysanthemum overlays all around. The kozuka was made by
clouds. The handle is made from shark skin and shows the same Yurakusaki Sekibun from a high-quality suaka copper blade showing
gold kirimons as menuki. With a modern sword stand and a fine an engraved tiger with gold and silver inlays, while the kogai was The blade of this tanto was originally a specific type of yari, a kikuchi
inscribed shirasaya to store the blade. also made by a late Edo period artist. With a modern sword stand. yari, named after the Higo Province town that was the seat of the
Enju school of swordsmiths. These yari had an unconventional
NAGASA 31.75 cm, WIDTH AT HILT 3.17 cm, WIDTH AT TIP 2.99 cm NAGASA 24 cm shape, resembling a kanmuri otoshi or yoroi doshi (armor piercer),
but with a long nakago to be used as a spear if the need should
Condition: The koshirae is in Condition: The blade and koshirae are in excellent condition. The arise. As warfare intensified during the Sengoku period, seeing an
excellent condition. The blade is blade with very minor surface wear. increase in close-combat fighting, these yari became an obvious
in superb condition and is in an Provenance: Important samurai art from an Austrian private choice for shortening and remounting as an armor-piercing tanto,
excellent state of preservation. collection – Lots (31 – 39) are from an Austrian private collection, its heavy triangular construction providing a fine thrusting weapon
Provenance: Important samurai art assembled with great knowledge and care, as all the objects are in capable of penetrating heavy targets.
from an Austrian private collection – a superior state of preservation. The collection most prominently
Lots (31 – 39) are from an Austrian features three Koto swords, no. 31 is listed as a Juyo Token Estimate EUR 10.000,-
private collection, assembled with (= important work). Starting price EUR 5.000,-
great knowledge and care, as all the
objects are in a superior state of
preservation. The collection most
prominently features three Koto
swords, no. 31 is listed as a Juyo
Token (= important work).
Estimate EUR 12.000,-
Starting price EUR 6.000,-

48 49