AN IMPRESSIVE KOTO O-TANTO IN SUPERB AND RARE KOSHIRAE Japan, the blade Muromachi (1333-1573) to Momoyama period (1573-1615), the mounting Edo period (1615-1868) The blade: The sugata is hira-zukuri with iori mune and mu sori, forged in mokume hada with a choji midare hamon in nie-deki with utsuri. The silver habaki with diagonal file marks. The nakago with three mekugi-ana, a kuri jiri, and no yasurime. The mounting: The iron tsuba of kirikomi mokko gata form, finely engraved to one side with a gold-inlaid dharma wheel and swirling clouds and to the other with four gold-inlaid characters and incised with the signature UMETADA. The brass fuchi, kashira, kojiri, and koiguchi of plain design. The shagreen-inlaid red-lacquered wood tsuka inscribed in gold lacquer with Buddhist texts, one side reading Goma Shufuku (‘Conquest of the Demon Realm’) and the other Yuge Jinzu (‘Godlike Playful Freedom’). The saya covered in shagreen, the interior with a hidden compartment for coins. The spectacular kozuka intricately worked with carved details and mixed-metal inlays creating a three-dimensional effect, depicting a fierce scaly dragon in gold takazogan writhing amid swirling clouds between two gnarled trees towering above a snarling tiger crouching by a stream. The reverse incised with the signature Soshu ju YUKIMITSU saku, in homage to Soshu Yukimitsu of the Kamakura period. The kogatana engraved with symbols and signed SANO NAOYOSHI with a kakihan. NAGASA 30.6 cm, LENGTH 52.5 cm Condition: Superb condition with expected wear and manufacturing irregularities. The blade with few small blisters and a single short line of ware.