Page 44 - Sotheby's London Fine Japanese Art Nov. 2019

37

THE PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN Kusunoki Tamon-hyoe Masashige [Kusunoki
Masashige (1294–1336)]
A KABUTO-WARI SIGNED GORO-
NYUDO MASAMUNE in a carved wood and black lacquered
koshirae in the form of a fish
EDO PERIOD, 19 TH CENTURY
This kabuto-wari was probably made as a
the four-sided blade with honorific statement of loyalty to the Imperial cause in
inscription: the Bakumatsu period (1853-1868)
Goro-nyudo Masamune kore wo tsukuru Length of koshirae: 41 cm., 16 in.
[Priest Gorō Masamune (circa 1264–1343)
made this sword] £ 3,000-5,000
€ 3,400-5,700 US$ 3,750-6,300
Nihon kaji so-sho [Japanese swordsmith]
Genko gan-nen Shogatsu kichijitsu [Genko 1
(1331) New Year’s day]
38

THE PROPERTY OF AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN The second:
A TANTO AND A KATANA Sugata [configuration]: Hirazukuri, iroi-mune
and chu-kisaki, koshi-hi
THE TANTO, SIGNED MORIMITSU
EDO PERIOD, 18 TH CENTURY Kitae [forging pattern]: Itame-gokoro, some kizu
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Gunome-midari
The first:
in nioi, occasional togari
Sugata [configuration]: Hirazukuri, mu-zori
Boshi [tip]: Ko-midari with kaeri
Kitae [forging pattern]: Not visible
Nakago [tang]: Ubu with one mekugi-ana,
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Notari-midare, ha-agari, kuri-jiri, mumei
details obscured
Habaki [collar]: Copper
Boshi [tip]: Indistinct, possible o-maru
Koshirae [mount]: Mounted as an aikuchi
Nakago [tang]: Ubu with one mekugi-ana, tanto in ribbed green aogai seya, tsuka with
ha-agari, kuri-jiri signed Morimitsu black ito
Habaki [collar]: Copper Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]:
33.3 cm., 131/8 in.
Koshirae [mount]: In black striped saya on a
red ground, silver tsuba Saki-haba [width at the yokote]:
2 cm., 3/4 in.
Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]:
27.2 cm., 11 in. Moto-haba [width at the machi]:
2.9 cm., 11/8 in.
Saki-haba [width at the yokote]:
2 cm., 3/4 in.
£ 3,000-5,000
Moto-haba [width at the machi]: € 3,400-5,700 US$ 3,750-6,300
1.1 cm., 1/2 in.

39

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY Habaki [collar]: Gold
A SHIN-SHINTO KATANA Koshirae [mount]: In black lacquered saya
with aogai, the fuchi-kashira are plain iron,
EDO PERIOD, 18 TH CENTURY
copper menuki of mythological figures,
Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri and round iron tsuba depicting a mountain scene
tori-zori with iroi-mune and chu-kissaki Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]:
Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-itame-hada with 69.4 cm., 273/8 in.
some masame Saki-haba [width at the yokote]:
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Ko-gunome- 3.0 cm., 11/8 in.
midare becoming wider in the monouichi Moto-haba [width at the machi]:
area, some togari, ashi throughout 2.3 cm., 1 in.
Boshi [tip]: Komi-midare with yakizume
£ 3,000-4,000
Nakago [tang]: Ubu nakago, kuri-jiri, mumei € 3,400-4,500 US$ 3,750-5,000

42 Buyers are liable to pay both the hammer price (as estimated above) and the buyer’s premium together with any applicable taxes and Artist’s Resale Right
(which will depend on the individual circumstances). Refer to the Buying at Auction and VAT sections at the back of this catalogue for further information.