97 - SEKISHU NAOTSUNA: AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE NAGINATA-NAOSHI WAKIZASHI WITH NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN CERTIFICATE

SEKISHU NAOTSUNA: AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE NAGINATA-NAOSHI WAKIZASHI WITH NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN CERTIFICATE Judged by NBTHK to be the work of Sekishu Naotsuna (1280-1348), unsigned Japan, 1280-1348, Kamakura period (1185-1333) to Nanbokucho period (1333-1392) The wakizashi has been judged and attested by the NBTHK to be the Tokubetsu Hozon Token (‘Especially worthy of Preservation’) rank. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, no. 144516, dated 9 August Heisei 11 [1999], with an image of the tang, with a registration stamp from the Educational Committee of Osaka, no. 115855, registration date 30 March Heisei 11 [1999], issue date 30 September Heisei 11 [1999], accompanies the lot. The blade: Sugata (shape): shobu zukuri, iori mune, saki-zori, bo-hi (blood groove) Hamon (temper line): ko-notare and gunome with sunagashi and kinsuji Hada (forging grain pattern): mokume Boshi (tip): komaru Nakago (tang): suriage (shortened), kiri-jiri, the yasurime is kiri, two mekugi ana Mei/Uramei (signature): mumei (unsigned) The mounting: Habaki (blade collar): shakudo foil on copper, diagonal file marks Tsuba (sword guard): of mokkogata form with a shakudo-plugged kozuka and kogai hitsu ana, the iron ground carved in shishiaibori with crashing waves detailed with gold and silver takazogan drops Fuchi-kashira (handle fittings): shakudo waves with gold takazogan drops, the fuchi signed Omori Hiruhide Tsuka (handle): samegawa (rayskin), dark blue tsuka-ito, shakudo menuki with gold takazogan modeled as crashing waves Saya (sheath): lacquered samegawa with shakudo and silver kurigata decorated with waves NAGASA 48.1 cm (blade length), SORI 1.1 cm (curvature) LENGTH 62 cm (blade and tang), 73 cm (koshirae) Provenance: From a Czech private collection specializing in Japanese swords and fittings. Accompanied by an export certificate dated 23 May Reiwa 5 [2023]. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The saya with few fine age cracks and fills. Originally, the blade was forged as a naginata (Japanese polearm). Later, it was cut down and remounted for use as a wakizashi. During this conversion, the tang was altered and the blade was reshaped, but it retains features characteristic of its naginata origin. Sekishu Naotsuna (1280-1348) was a highly celebrated Japanese swordsmith from Iwami Province (modern-day Shimane Prefecture). He is best known as the representative master of the Iwami school and is traditionally recognized as one of the Masamune Juttetsu (the Ten Great Disciples of the legendary master blacksmith Masamune).