The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour
The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour
Property from an Important Private American Collection
A tachi | Attributed to the Shikkake School | Kamakura period, 14th century
Lot Closed
May 10, 01:59 PM GMT
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from an Important Private American Collection
A tachi
Attributed to the Shikkake School
Kamakura period, 14th century
Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, ioiri-mune, deep torii-zori, chu-kissaki
Kitae [forging pattern]: itame-hada mixed with o-itame and mokume,
Hamon [tempering pattern]: small gunome-midare in ko-nie, active ko-ashi and ha, sunagashi and kinsuji, some utsuri
Boshi [tip]: rounded boshi, becoming almost yakizume
Nakago [tang]: o-suriage, kiji-momo, two mekugi-ana, mumei
Habaki [collar]: elaborately carved gold
In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] with sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro
Koshirae [mount]: the fine tachi koshirae decorated in gold hiramaki-e on a dense nashiji ground with yotsume mon and geometric design, all the mounts in shakudo and gilt, chased and engraved with further yotsume mon,
Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 71.1 cm., 28 in.
Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.9 cm., ¾ in.
Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.8 cm., 1⅛ in.
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 1015743 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 3 (2021)
The Yamato School of smiths was one of what became known in the Meiji period as the Gokaden – the Five Principal Schools of Swordsmiths. Towards the end of the twelfth century many sword making schools flourished in Yamato Province, close to the cultural centre of Nara. Within this overall grouping the Shikkake School flourished from around the late thirteenth century. Typically their blades were long, elegant, and with a deep curve – ideal for warfare from horseback.