Tanto Uda Kunimune In Koshirae Style With A Very Rare Signature On The Blade With Gold Inscriptions

Tanto Uda Kunimune (宇多国宗) in Koshirae, with a very rare Shiji-Mei signature on the blade and Kinzogan (gold) inscriptions.

(Shipping costs included for the EU, extra for international).

This Tanto is sold without a certificate, but its provenance is beyond doubt due to the Shiji-Mei signature (with 4 Kanji, 2 of which are in gold).

DESCRIPTION:

Tanto with its original Koshirae mount, signed in Shiji-Mei (4 Kanji, rare on a Tanto) and with rare gold Kinzogan inscriptions: 十八公 Ju Hachi Ko, 本阿彌 For Hon'ami Kokan. Its Kinzogan gives it a very special status.

There are therefore two possible origins for the Kinzogan inscription :

Either it was Hon'ami Kokan, who lived from 1825 to 1854 and was the 18th generation expert of the renowned Hon'ami lineage of experts, who signed in Kinzogan to validate the signature and the origin of this Tanto.

Or, it was a member of the Tokugawa Ieyasu family, specifically a vassal of the Matsudaira family, who signed in Kinzogan to validate the Tanto's origins and indicate that it was part of a princely collection.

This Tanto is sold without a certificate, but its rare UDA Kunimune signature with four kanji, its original Nakago Ubu script, and its gold Kinzogan inscription confirm its provenance, as the significant cost for the time would not have been incurred on a blade that was not worthwhile.

This Tanto, which could also be described as a Sun Nobi Tanto (longer than typical Tantos), is a massive blade, characteristic of the Koto period, and could be classified as a "Tokubetsu Hozon" or even Bunkazai, due to the rarity of its four-kanji signature, its Ubu script, and the fact that its signature dates back to the Oei period.

THE BLACKSMITH:

Kunimune (国宗), 2nd generation, Oei (応永, 1394-1428), Etchu – “Uda Kunimune” (宇多国宗), his real name being Saemon no Jo (左衛門尉)

• Blade: Signed, Zaimei
• Name of the blacksmith: Uda Kunimune 宇多国宗
• Location: Yamato then Etchu (Toyama Prefecture)
• School of blacksmithing: Uda of Yamato and Etchu Provinces. Blades from this school are highly sought after, especially Tanto Ubu with a full signature. The Uda School is renowned in Japan as the best school in the northern part of Honshu (from Tokyo to Akita).
• Period: Muromachi/Oei Oei era (1394-1428)
• Blade classification/Swordsmith's rating: Blade classification, Koto, Jyo saku, Wazamono.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Steel type: Tamahagane
• Condition: Very good
• Overall blade length: 38.1 cm
• Nagasa: 27.3 cm
• Weight: 184 g
• Sori: Height: 0.3 cm - Type: Uchi Zori (reversed sori at the monouchi, typical of the Kamakura period 1185–1333)• Mekugi ana: 2 in number
• Nakago: Type: Standard, Futsu Gata / Tip: Ha Agari Kurijiri / Condition: Ubu (Original) / Yasurime: Not visible, as oxidation of the Nakago has worn them away.
• Mune type: Mitsu Mune
• Sugata type: Hira-zukuri
• Grooves: No-hi (without)
• Jihada type: Itame Hada
• Hamon type: Chu-Suguha
• Boshi type: Hakikake (sweeping) with a long Kaeri (return below the Mune)
• Defects: Some scratches and traces of oxidation, due to the age of the blade.

KOSHIRAE

This very fine Koshirae is of very good quality and in very good condition. The Tsuka is of very high quality, made of ray skin, with a beautiful Oyatsubo (emperor nodule). The Kashira is very beautiful and highly symbolic, most likely made by an artist of the Goto School (a recurring motif of this school), from the region where this blade was produced, Toyama Prefecture (Etchu).

• Saya Condition/Quality: Very good condition and very good quality
• Total Length: 54cm
• Tsuba: Zaimei (Signed) - Materials: Iron - Theme: Bamboo + Nature motifs
• Fuchi/Kashira: Fuchi/Theme: Bird and branch motif, Kashira/Theme: Hotei holding a bag with its teeth and hands, in which a child places precious objects. A lovely piece.
• 2 Menuki, with a quail on an ear of corn.
• Habaki: Kashu Habaki (with geometric incisions)
• Beautiful black lacquered Saya (recent lacquering)
• Silk Bukuro Katana with traditional motifs. A beautiful set that matches the quality of the blade.
• Kozuka/Kogatana: Kogatana (small knife blade, signed) with an iron handle, decorated with a wagon wheel, leaves, and tsuta (Virginia vine) stems, with gilded details.
• The tsuka is braided in Hineri Maki, and the itomaki is made of golden brown Japanese silk.
• Recent sageo made of natural Japanese silk.