A Koto tachi | Muromachi period, 15th century

The Property from an English Collection Formed from the 1960s Onwards

A Koto tachi 

Muromachi period, 15^th century

Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, saki-zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Itame-hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Chu-suguha in nioi-deki

Boshi [tip]: Midare-boshi

Nakago [tang]: O-suriage, three mekugi-ana (two filled with lead), mumei

Habaki [collar]: Copper

Koshirae [mount]: The black lacquer saya with sprinkled mother-of-pearl and decorated in gold hiramaki-e with aoi mon [leaves of wild ginger crests] and peacock feathers, the copper fittings engraved with scrolling karakusa, the mokko-gata iron tsuba inlaid in silver and copper with butterflies and mouths among grasses, the menuki copper-gilt in the form of tigers, 100.4 cm., 39½ in. 

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 69 cm., 27⅛ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.6 cm., 1 in.

Sori [maximum curvature along the mune]: 1.5 cm., ½ in.