Japanese Katana Sword, Signed Osafune Sukesada, 1559 - Nbthk And Tokubetsu Kicho Certificates.

JAPAN - 1559 (Late Muromachi period).
Samurai katana.
FUSHI and KASHIRA en suite in copper with shakudo patina and chased gold of chrysanthemums, symbol of longevity, nobility and renewal (the flower retains its beauty despite the passing of the seasons).
TSUKA in wood covered with ray skin and black silk braid.
MENUKIS in chased, patinated, silvered and gilded copper featuring chrysanthemums.
TSUBA maru-gata in wrought iron, chased and partially gilded featuring a water dragon in foaming waves, large twisted golden mimi.
SAYA ringed in gloss black lacquered wood.
HABAKI single in black patina copper adorned with a gilded X.
Straight blade, regular hamon, straight and well marked, the tang is holed three times (one hole refilled) and signed by Osafune Sukesada, the second year of the Eiroku era (1559).
This signature is known as a "gakumei " (framed signature); when a sword is considerably shortened through a process called o-suriage, the original signature would normally be lost. To preserve it, it is carefully cut into a small rectangular piece. After the silk has been shortened, an indented space is created in the new silk, into which the preserved signature is inserted. This method allows the original signature to survive the shortening of the blade.
Sold with the stand, its silk case for transport, its KICHOU NBTHK certificate from 1961 (also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai -a Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords- is one of the oldest Japanese sword evaluation organizations in modern Japan) and its Tokubetsu Kicho certificate (issued by the Bunkasho, the cultural affairs agency, which recognizes a Japanese sword as a work of art).
Dimensions: 95 x 8.5 x 8.5 cm.
Blade length with tang: 88 cm.
Edge length: 69.4cm.
Curvature (sori): 2.2 cm.

Notes: The blacksmiths of Bizen province in the late Muromachi period (1492-1569 AD) are called Matsu Bizen.C.) are called Matsu Bizen (meaning "end of Bizen"). The Sukesada school was one of the most famous and prosperous, particularly among the Osafune schools (the main branch). Over the generations, various styles were forged by the Sukesada lineage. Some 60 blacksmiths used Sukesada as their maker's name, making it a renowned brand among samurai.
Bizen blacksmiths produced many swords during the Muromachi period, particularly during the Sengoku (Warring Kingdoms) period. Demand for high-quality weapons increased, as feudal lords needed more swords for battle. It is entirely possible that this blade was commissioned by a samurai and may have been worn in battle during the period of intense rivalry between warlords.