Shinshinto, dated 1847
Mei: 備前介宗次 - Bizen no Suke Munetsugu
Uramei: 弘化四年二月日 - A day in the 2nd month of Kôka 4th year (1847)
Hada: mokume mixed with ko-itame
Hamon: gunome midare in Shizu style, with yo, sunagashi, kinsuji
Boshi: notare-komi in ko-maru with short kaeri.
Nakago: ubu, one mekugiana, kengyo nakagojiri, kattesagari yasurime.
Sugata: Shinogi zukuri, tori zori, iori mune, chu kissaki.
Nagasa: 48.3 cm
Sori: 11 mm
Motohaba: 29 mm
Sakihaba: 19 mm
Motokasane: 7,5 mm
Sakikasane: 5,5 mm
Accompanied by a NTB Bunka Shiryo paper from the Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan (Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings).
Koyama Munestugu may be considered the best shinshinto swordsmith working in Bizen-den. Born in 1802 in Oshu Shirakawa his real name was Koyama Sobei. Although he learned sword making in the Kato Tsunahide school, judging from his Bizen style workmanship he appears to have been more influenced by Tsunahide’s younger brother, Chounsai Tsunatoshi. Munetsugu was employed by Lord Matsudaira of the Kuwana Han of Ise and received the title of Bizen (no) Suke in Koka 2nd year (1845). While this smith put an emphasis on Bizen style, often utilizing muji hada, he did make works in other styles from time to time. This is one of these pieces, a gorgeous wakizashi done in Soshu style resemblig works by Shizu Kaneuji. It is full of vibrant white nie in a mixed hamon of choji and gunome midare, packed with many ataraki that brings to mind the works of Go Yoshihiro and Shizu. The ko-itame hada is very well done and much better looking than the usual shinshinto muji.
Fujishiro rates Munetsugu as Jo-jo saku for a high degree of excellence in craft, and as one of the top smiths of the Shinshinto period.
Japanese sword for sale. Price on application. Please include item stock number: tok-ce1
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