Katana signed « Kawachi no kami Kunisuke » – 河内守国助
First generation (shodai)
Early Edo period – 1624
Settsu Province (Osaka)
School name: Kunisuke
Gorgeous blade in perfect condition with elegant sugata reminiscent of the Ishidō style from which Shodai Kunisuke emerged.
The jigane is an excellently crafted hada itame, slightly loosened, allowing the grain structure to be clearly visible. This type of itame is typical of the Horikawa school.
We therefore have here a perfect illustration of Shodai Kunisuke’s craftsmanship in a single blade, combining the influences of his two favorite schools and retaining the spirit of the Sengoku era style. The hamon is bright, in the gunome midare style, interspersed with notare, dotted with sunagashi and ashi.
The koshirae is composed of iron elements themed around the koi carp, a symbol of luck and happiness, with gilded copper and silver inlays. The saya is decorated with elaborate traditional lacquer with matte and glossy black urushi rings.
Blade dimensions:
Nagasa = 67.6 cm
Sori = 1.6 cm
Motohaba = 3 cm
Kasane = 0,65 cm
Fujishiro rank: Shinto Josaku
Yamada rank: Wazamono
NBTHK Certificate Tokubetsu Hozon
Shodai Kunisuke, founder of her own school, was born in Kameyama, Ise Province, under the surname Kobayashi. He was a vassal of the lord of Kameyama Castle, Seki Nagato no Kami, and it was only after the latter’s fall that he decided to become a swordsmith. He subsequently went to Kyoto, where he became a disciple of Horikawa Kunihiro and worked closely with Izumi no kami Kunisada.
His high-quality work earned him the honorary title of Kawachi no kami around 1623.
As his works have become very rare these days, this beautiful katana would make a fine piece in any collection of a self-respecting lover of Japanese sword art…
Reserved
