A Shintō Katana in koshirae by Sukenao
Signed: Omi no Kami Takaki ju Sukenao
近江守高木住助直
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Dated: 12th month of Enpo 5 (1677)
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NBTHK Hozon Tōken
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Nagasa [length]: 69.2 cm
Sori [curvature]: 1.2 cm
Motohaba [bottom width]: 2.85 cm
Sakihaba [top width]: 1.77 cm
Motokasane [bottom thickness]: 6.8 mm
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Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, deep sori, chu-kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-itame hada. Jinie and Chikei
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Toranba style gunome midare in ko-nie deki. Thick nioiguchi. Sunagashi, and kinsuji
Boshi [point]: ko-maru with kaeri.
Nakago [tang]: Ubu, iriyamagata, o-sujichigai kesho yasurime; one mekugi-ana
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Origami [paper]: The blade comes with a Hozon Tōken (Sword Worth of Preserving) certificate issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai.
Koshirae [mounts]: The sword is accompanied by a good antique koshirae with high level fittings: fuchi kashira in shakudo nanako with gold iroe representing insect among autumn grasses. Shakudo menuki with birds, round tsuba with gold details representing sages among waves.
An Osaka katana by one of the great master from early Shinto, signed and dated.
Omi no kami Sukenao was born in Takaki, Omi Province in 1639 and received the title of Omi no Kami around 1669. He studied in Osaka under Echizen no Kami Sukehiro I and soon became the student of Sukehiro II who, recognizing Sukenao's extraordinary talent, placed him in the position of foremost student, the only one who was able to step forth from the aura of fame surrounding his master and be recognized for his own ability. It was during these years that he presumably married Sukehiro’s younger sister.
Once he had completed his training, he returned to Takaki, as visible in the “Takaki ju” added to his signatures used around the Enpo period (1673-1681).
Sukenao signed some of his blades with Sukehiro's name, according to the daimei tradition. After the master’s death in 1682, he became the actual head of the Tsuda school and began the use of “Tsuda”name, changing also the the style of his signature to the rounded style used also by Sukehiro.
Sukenao worked until 1693, after a very prolific career.
He is rated Jo-jo saku (4th level out of 5, “Super-superior”) by Fujishiro, placing him among the best 36 swordsmiths of the Edo period; many of his blades reached Juyo Tōken and Tokubetsu Juyo Tōken rating by NBTHK.
Sukenao’s jihada is a tight ko-itame with dense ji-nie which shows typical Osaka Shinto refined forging; precise darkish chikei and kinsuji appears all over the surface. His favourite hamon, seen also on this sword, is toran-ba with a deep nioiguchi, learnt by his master Sukehiro II but more heightened with some wide valleys, mixed to squared gunome and with variations in their width.
Price: 16,000 €
Inventory Nr: 1770
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