{"product_id":"authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-shinto-era-wakizashi-kuni-illegible-tozando","title":"Authentic Japanese Sword for Sale - Shinto Era Wakizashi - Kuni(...illegible)| Tozando","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAntique Japanese Wakizashi, signed \"Sesshū-jū Izumi no Kami Kuni…\" (摂州住和泉守国—), suriage — attributed to Izumi no Kami Kunisada (\"Oya-Kunisada\") — early Edo period (Shintō), Settsu (Osaka) — in a period koshirae with a Mt. Fuji kozuka, plus shirasaya\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSuriage, signed wakizashi strongly attributed to the Osaka-shintō giant Izumi no Kami Kunisada · exquisitely packed itame with ji-nie · a bright, wide ō-midare\/gunome temper with kinsuji and sunagashi · in a black-lacquer mounting with an auspicious Fuji-and-boar theme\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine piece of Settsu province symbolizing the flowering of the early-Edo shintō period. A top-grade blade in which an exquisitely packed ground and a bright, lucid temper harmonize beautifully, accompanied by a flavorful period mounting with a fitted \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e — a work of high appreciation value in both blade and mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorkmanship and condition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFreshly polished, the blade is exceptionally sound. The \u003cem\u003ejigane\u003c\/em\u003e is an \u003cem\u003eitame\u003c\/em\u003e forged extremely tight, its fine grain delicately clothed in \u003cem\u003eji-nie\u003c\/em\u003e — a very smooth, limpid steel in which the forging clarity peculiar to the shintō-era Settsu smiths stands out. The \u003cem\u003ehamon\u003c\/em\u003e is a generous, broad temper of \u003cem\u003eō-midare\u003c\/em\u003e mixed with \u003cem\u003egunome\u003c\/em\u003e. The temper edge is extremely bright and clear, letting one fully savor the charm of a \u003cem\u003enie-deki\u003c\/em\u003e temper; fine \u003cem\u003esunagashi\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ekinsuji\u003c\/em\u003e run from the boundary into the edge, and together with the depth of the \u003cem\u003enioiguchi\u003c\/em\u003e they create points of interest in every direction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eForm\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSolid in both \u003cem\u003emihaba\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ekasane\u003c\/em\u003e, with a moderate \u003cem\u003esori\u003c\/em\u003e and rich \u003cem\u003ehiraniku\u003c\/em\u003e, the blade presents a powerful figure. The tang (\u003cem\u003enakago\u003c\/em\u003e) is neatly cut with the signature \u003cem\u003eSesshū-jū Izumi no Kami Kuni…\u003c\/em\u003e, though its lower portion has unfortunately been lost to later shortening (\u003cem\u003esuriage\u003c\/em\u003e). Even so, this work is strongly judged to be from the hand of \u003cem\u003eIzumi no Kami Kunisada\u003c\/em\u003e, one of the foremost masters of the shintō era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn the smith — Izumi no Kami Kunisada\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA legendary master who worked in the early Edo period (Kan'ei–Kanbun eras) in Settsu province (present-day Osaka), the greatest center of new-sword making. Born in Hyūga province (Miyazaki), he is said to have gone to Kyoto and studied under \u003cem\u003eDewa Daijō Kuniji\u003c\/em\u003e of the Mishina school, later moving to Osaka; in Genna 9 (1623) he received the honorary title \u003cem\u003eIzumi no Kami\u003c\/em\u003e. The first-generation Kunisada, known under the name Izumi no Kami Kunisada, is affectionately called \u003cem\u003eOya-Kunisada\u003c\/em\u003e (\"parent Kunisada\") by collectors for his overwhelming forging skill and artistic refinement, and is very highly esteemed as the real father (and teacher) of the later great master \u003cem\u003eTsuda Echizen no Kami Sukehiro\u003c\/em\u003e — the \"western yokozuna of the shintō\". His style, fusing the refined Yamashiro-tradition beauty of the ground with a Sōshū-tradition strength of \u003cem\u003enie\u003c\/em\u003e, laid the foundation of Osaka shintō, and works by this giant have always commanded exceptional popularity and standing in the sword market to this day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe koshirae\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine period mounting: a beautiful jet-black lacquer \u003cem\u003esaya\u003c\/em\u003e, an elaborately worked hilt wrap and \u003cem\u003etsuba\u003c\/em\u003e, and a \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e that combines utility with ornament. Among the fittings, the \u003cem\u003ekozuka\u003c\/em\u003e bears \u003cem\u003eMt. Fuji\u003c\/em\u003e — Japan's supreme sacred peak, an auspicious emblem tied to \u003cem\u003efuji\u003c\/em\u003e (\"without a second\") and \u003cem\u003efushi\u003c\/em\u003e (\"immortality \/ everlasting prosperity\") — while the \u003cem\u003emenuki\u003c\/em\u003e that adorn the hilt take the form of a \u003cem\u003eboar\u003c\/em\u003e (\u003cem\u003einoshishi\u003c\/em\u003e), a motif beloved of the samurai for its headlong charge, signifying good health and valor. It is a deeply flavorful mounting uniting practicality, decoration, and the owner's wishes. The \u003cem\u003eseppa\u003c\/em\u003e and copper \u003cem\u003ehabaki\u003c\/em\u003e are likewise very carefully made, further setting off the dignity of the blade. A \u003cem\u003eshirasaya\u003c\/em\u003e, indispensable for careful keeping, is also included, completing the piece as a collection item.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThough the signature is a shortened (suriage) one, this is an outstanding blade into which the skill and aesthetic of the Osaka-shintō giant Kunisada were lavishly poured. Together with an auspicious period koshirae woven of Mt. Fuji and boar, it is a masterpiece that will shine on forever as the crown of your collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wakizashi (shinogi-zukuri), suriage\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature (mei):\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Sesshū-jū Izumi no Kami Kuni…\" (摂州住和泉守国—), lower portion lost to later shortening; attributed to Izumi no Kami Kunisada\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCertification:\u003c\/strong\u003e none (attributed to Izumi no Kami Kunisada)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Early Edo period (shintō), Kan'ei–Kanbun era\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSmith \/ school:\u003c\/strong\u003e Izumi no Kami Kunisada (\"Oya-Kunisada\"), 1st generation — Settsu (Osaka); founder of the Osaka-shintō tradition\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJigane:\u003c\/strong\u003e very tightly packed itame with fine ji-nie; smooth and clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHamon:\u003c\/strong\u003e broad ō-midare mixed with gunome, nie-deki, with bright habuchi, sunagashi and kinsuji\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlade length (nagasa):\u003c\/strong\u003e 50 cm \/ 19.69 in (about 1 shaku 6 sun 5 bu)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCurvature (sori):\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.5 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at base (motohaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 30.2 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at base (motokasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 6.8 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWidth at tip (sakihaba):\u003c\/strong\u003e 21.5 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThickness at tip (sakikasane):\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.3 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (blade only):\u003c\/strong\u003e 530 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (without scabbard):\u003c\/strong\u003e 740 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e freshly polished, very sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMounting:\u003c\/strong\u003e black-lacquer period koshirae — worked tsuba and hilt wrap, kozuka with Mt. Fuji design, boar menuki, copper habaki with seppa; shirasaya also included\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTorokushō (Japanese registration) No.:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nagano 13046\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Tozando Katana Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53734856491371,"sku":"611-NNW013046","price":480000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0491\/2178\/8069\/files\/nagano13046_kuni_illegible_1.jpg?v=1787013570","url":"https:\/\/japanesesword.net\/products\/authentic-japanese-sword-for-sale-shinto-era-wakizashi-kuni-illegible-tozando","provider":"Tozando Katana Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}