Une paire de sabres pour un daisho, époque Edo, XVIIE siècle

le Katana torii-zori, chu kissaki, notare hamon avec komaru boshi, itame hada, ubu nakago avec un mekugi-ana, mei Kashu no ju Hiroyoshi, 60,9 cm, 24  in., le wakizashi koshi zori, chu kissaki, gunome hamon, itame hada, ubu nakago avec un mekugi-ana, mumei, 45,5 cm, 17 7/8  in., daisho saya en laque brune à décor des maru ni tachi aoi et daki omo-daka mon en or takamakie, tsuba de cuivre nanako avec incrustations de feuillages en or takazogan, fuchi kashirae et menuki de shakudo, tsuka endommagés;  ensemble avec un katana kake (porte-sabre) décoré dans le style shibayama d'un coq et d'une poule en incrustations de nacre et d'ivoire sur un fond nashiji, le revers avec des chidori en vol en iroe takamakie  

By repute presented to John Henry Phelps in Nikko in 1908. A typed letter states "the swords are of the late 17th century from Nikko temple collection and presented to me at Nikko by Shinto family in 1908". The mon depicted on the scabbards are those of the Kinoshita and Honda families.

The katana blade with the hada scratched and obscured in areas but the hamon and grain are visible. One small chip to the hamon, some tiredness and grain opening, a more pronounced kisu in one place. The wakizashi blade with a patch of old black rust at the base of the mune. A few scratches on the hada, and surface obscured with dirt but with visible hamon and grain. A few tiny chips scattered along the tempered hedge, hardly visible with naked eyes. Either blade are unlikely to have been repolished since the begining of 20th Century, yet they are still in fairly good presentation state. The mounts with the tsuka distressed and binding broken (showing in the illustration in the catalogue). The wakizashi with menuki detached and kept in a separate bag, the tablet inlay to the slot of the kozuka and koikuchi (bottom of saya) are missing.The brown lacquer saya and gilded mon otherwise in fair condition. The stand: the katana kake with two small pieces of inlay missing on the lotus pond to the left of the cockrerel. Some cracks and chips to the lacquer. The nashjiji and kirigane faded and dusty overall, no apparent repairs or restorations.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."