102 - YAMON NAOKATSU: A FINE KATANA IN SUPERB KOSHIRAE WITH NBTHK HOZON TOKEN CERTIFICATES FOR THE BLADE AND TSUBA

YAMON NAOKATSU: A FINE KATANA IN SUPERB KOSHIRAE WITH NBTHK HOZON TOKEN CERTIFICATES FOR THE BLADE AND TSUBA Judged by the NBTHK to be the work of Shoji Yamon Naokatsu (1835-1884), unsigned Japan, Musashi province, c. 1854-1864, late Edo period (1615-1868) The katana has been judged and attested by the NBTHK to be the Hozon Token (‘Worthy of Preservation’) rank. The NBTHK Hozon paper, no. 349351, dated 4 February Heisei 10 [1998], with an image of the tang, with a registration stamp from the Educational Committee of Shizuoka, no. 1494, registration date 7 May Showa 26 [1951], issue date 6 March Heisei 10 [1998], accompanies this lot. The tsuba has been judged and attested by the NBTHK to be the Hozon Token (‘Worthy of Preservation’) rank. The NBTHK Hozon paper, no. 450181, dated 27 June Heisei 18 [2006], with an image of the tsuba, and the issue date 29 September Heisei 18 [2006], accompanies this lot. The blade: Sugata (shape): hira zukuri, iori mune, torii-sori curvature, bo-hi (blood groove) Hamon (temper line): gunome midare, ko-choji midare-ba, una no ha (horse teeth) with ko-nie deki, ji-nie deki, sunagashi, and kinsuji Hada (forging grain pattern): ko-itame Boshi (tip): omaru Nakago (tang): ubu (not shortened), haagari, the yasurime is sujikai, one mekugi ana Mei/Uramei (signature): mumei (unsigned) The mounting: Habaki (blade collar): gold foil on copper, diagonal file marks Tsuba (sword guard): of nagamarugata form, a kozuka and kogai hitsu ana, iron with suaka and shakudo takabori crayfish, shakudo lined mimi and shishiaibori waves Fuchi-kashira (handle fittings): punched sentoku with gold takazogan pieces of the shogi game incised with their names (king, pawn, etc.) Tsuka (handle): samegawa (rayskin), black tsuka-ito, two suaka crayfish-form menuki Saya (sheath): black lacquer with fine aogai flakes Saya fittings: Omori School silver kojiri with waves, buffalo-horn kurigata NAGASA 71.4 cm (blade length), SORI 1.4 cm (curvature) LENGTH 92.6 cm (blade and tang), 102.8 cm (koshirae) Provenance: From a German private collection specializing in Japanese swords and fittings. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. The saya with a tiny flake to the lacquer. Shoji Yamon Naokatsu (1835-1884) is listed in Haynes Index of Japanese Sword Fittings and Associated Artists on p. 1323 (H 06662.0). He was the son of the first Naokatsu and used the name Naoyoshi until 1862. After the death of his father, he used the Naokatsu name as the second generation.