98 - BIZEN OSAFUNE KANEMITSU (ATTR.): A SUPERB BIZEN SCHOOL KATANA IN EXCEPTIONAL KOSHIRAE, WITH CERTIFICATE BY HONAMI KOSON

BIZEN OSAFUNE KANEMITSU (ATTR.): A SUPERB BIZEN SCHOOL KATANA IN EXCEPTIONAL KOSHIRAE, WITH CERTIFICATE BY HONAMI KOSON Attributed to Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu (1278-1360), unsigned Japan, early 14th century, late Kamakura period (1185-1333) The katana is accompanied by a Kanteisho (appraisal) certificate from the Osaka Token Bijutsu Kurabu (Osaka Sword Art Club). The paper, no. 340706, dated 15 July Meiji 34 [1901], with an imprint of the tang and the seal ‘Osaka Sword’, signed Honami Yoshitake and sealed with the stamp of guarantee of the Osaka Sword Art Club, certifying that the blade is a genuine blade by Bizen no kuni Osafune Kanemitsu. The blade: Sugata (shape): shinogi zukuri, iori mune, torii-zori curvature, o-kissaki, bo-hi (blood grooves) Hamon (temper line): sanbonsugi, choji, sunagashi, chikei Hada (forging grain pattern): muji Boshi (tip): jizo Nakago (tang): suriage (shortened), kiri-jiri, the yasurime is kiri, two mekugi ana Mei/Uramei (signature): mumei (no signature) The mounting: Habaki (blade collar): gold foil over copper, diagonal file marks Tsuba (sword guard): of tatemarugata form, the shakudo migakiji ground decorated in katakiribori with fine vines, the mimi lined in gold Fuchi and kabuto-gane (handle fittings): gold and shakudo migakiji ground with leafy vines in katakiribori Tsuka (handle): samegawa (rayskin), beige tsuka-ito, gold and shakudo ‘dragon in clouds’ menuki Saya (sheath): sections of silvered sentoku, stained leather, and painted animal hair, probably horse hair, worked with irregular black spots to imitate leopard skin, with shakudo migakiji and gold fittings, ashi, the silver section incised with a paulownia (kiri) crest NAGASA 72.8 cm (blade length), SORI 2.3 cm (curvature) LENGTH 91.2 cm (blade and tang), 103.5 cm (koshirae), 98.4 cm (shirasaya) Provenance: From a Czech private collection specializing in Japanese swords and fittings. Accompanied by an export certificate dated 9 May Reiwa 6 [2024]. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The samegawa with tiny chips and small fills where the former mekugi ana were located, some rubbing to the silvered sections of the saya. The peg of the shirasaya is lost. Accompanied by an expert opinion from the celebrated Japanese-sword appraiser Honami Koson. The appraisal certificate reads, ‘Bizen no kuni Kanemitsu, shoshin, nagasa ni-shaku yon-sun, omote-ura hi kore ari, tadashi suriage mumei nari, dai kinshi gohyaku-mai’ [Bizen no kuni Kanemitsu, genuine, Nagasa 2 shaku 4 sun [72.73 cm], grooves on both front and back, shortened, no signature, value of 500 gold mai], dated ‘Showa Jusan, boin, roku gatsu san nichi’ [3 June 1938, Earth-Tiger year], a kao from Koson, and with a stamp ‘Honami in’. The sayagaki reads, ‘Bizen no kuni Kanemitsu, nagasa ni-shaku yon-sun, omote-ura hi kore ari, tadashi suriage mumei nari, dai kinshi gohyaku-mai’ [Bizen no kuni Kanemitsu, Nagasa 2 shaku 4 sun [72.73 cm], grooves on both front and back, shortened, no signature, value of 500 gold mai], the reverse dated, ‘Showa Jusan nen, boin, roku gatsu jokan’ [June 1938, Earth-Tiger year, first half of the month], Honami Koson, with a kao. Bizen Osafune Kanemitsu (1278-1360) was born into one of the most illustrious lineages of Japanese swordsmiths, descending directly from the great Osafune masters Kagemitsu, Nagamitsu, and Mitsutada. He succeeded his father Kagemitsu as head of the line and is traditionally counted among the Masamune no Juttetsu, having studied under Masamune in Sagami Province around 1320. Kanemitsu became the founder of the Soden-Bizen style, combining the refined Bizen tradition with techniques associated with the Soshu school. According to the Koto Meizukushi Taizen, he enjoyed an exceptionally long and productive career, living to the age of 83. Relatively few signed works survive today because many of his originally long blades were later shortened. Auction comparison: Compare a related ko-Bizen katana attributed to Bizen Kanemitsu, dated c. 1330-1340, nagasa 75.8 cm, at Bonhams, Fine Japanese and Korean Art including property from the Collection of Drs, 22 July 2020, New York, lot 1113 (sold for USD 40,075 or approx. EUR 50,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing).