A wakizashi | Signed Bungo no kami Minamoto Masatomi | Edo period, 17th century

Property from an Important Private American Collection

A wakizashi

Signed Bungo no kami Minamoto Masatomi (an alternative recorded reading is Masayasu)

Edo period, 17^th century

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, shallow torii-zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko itame-hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Broad gunome and choji midare in niedeki

Boshi [tip]: Maru boshi

Nakago [tang]: one mekugi-ana

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the black lacquer saya decorated in gold hiramaki-e with aoi mon [leaves of wild ginger crests]

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 53 cm., 20⅞ in.

Sori [curvature]: 1.2 cm., ½ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.3 cm., ⅞ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3.2 cm., 1¼ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 1017870 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Reiwa 4 (2022); and a further certificate of registration as Kicho Token [Precious Sword], no. 23014, issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 32 (1957).