Page 63 - Fine Japanese Art November 29, 2019 Galerie Zacke

45 | TOMOTSUGU: A TANTO IN KOSHIRAE
By Tomotsugu, signed Tomotsugu
Japan, c. 16th to 17th century

The blade:
Hira-tsukuri with iori mune, the hamon is notare midare with
a tendency towards sugi or mountains. The tang is ubu with
two mekugi-ana, the tip is kurijiri, the large signature reads
TOMOTSUGU. A number of swordsmiths with this name were active
in the 13th to 17th centuries.

The mounting:
The oval-round iron tsuba has one hitsu and much patina. The
decorations in takazogan with silver and gilding show a peony NAGASA 29.3 cm, total LENGTH 52 cm
blossom and a wild shishi on the front side and only suggest a
waterfall and plants on the rear side. The fuchi and kashira in Condition: The blade is in excellent condition with very minor
shakudo show blossoms in takazogan and with gilt. The menuki surface wear. The saya shows some crackling and smaller chips and
show rapidly galopping horses with gilt saddlecloths. The saya the kojiri is lost.
is lustrous lacquerwork with fine red-gold spots on a black Provenance: From a Hungarian private collection.
background. The kozuka shows a shishi next to a peony blossom in
high relief (takazogan) over fine nanakoji, some gilt, nekogaki with Estimate EUR 1.500,-
gilding on the reverse. Starting price EUR 750,-

44 | SHINKAI: A TANTO IN KOSHIRAE

By Shinkai, signed Shinkai
Japan, c. 17th century, Edo period (1615-1868)

The blade:
Hira-zukuri with iori mune, the hamon shows irregular wave. NAGASA 27.1 cm, total LENGTH 49.8 cm
Notare-midare. The tang is ubu with one mekugi-ana, the tip is kuri-
jiri, the clearly written and large signature reads SHINKAI. Condition: The blade in good condition with few blemishes and
surface wear. The saya shows crackling and wear to lacquer.
The mounting: Provenance: From a Hungarian private collection.
The iron tsuba of mokkogata form has one hitsu open on the side
and much patina. The smooth fuchi and the kojiri with shakudo Estimate EUR 1.500,-
and some gilt on the edge. The menuki are on the surface of the Starting price EUR 750,-
wrapping and show well-crafted, partly gilt dragons. The black-
lacquered saya with slanted stokes shows a tiger in the pose of a
dragon on the kozuka handle on lightly gilt nanakoji.

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