A wakizashi | Signed Kanenaga | Muromachi period, 16th century

The Property of a European Collector

A wakizashi

Signed Kanenaga

Muromachi period, 16^th century

Sugata [configuration]: hira zukuri

Kitae [forging pattern]: faint itame and mokume hada

Hamon [tempering pattern]: peaked gunome

Boshi [tip]: short kaeri

Horimono [carving]:

Nakago [tang]: ubu, one mekugi ana

Habaki [collar]: silver, single clad

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the black lacquer koshirae in sabiji-style with ribbed upper section, continuing onto the tsuka, the tuska chased and engraved with myoga mon [ginger crests] the elaborate associated silver fittings depicting butterflies, peonies and foliage, the kozuka with a monkey and a crab, signed, the kogai with ducks in swirling waters, rockwork and river grasses, the scabbard a group of peonies in high relief, the kojiri with flowers and foliage

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 34.1 cm., 13⅜ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3.1 cm., 1¼ in.