UK
Sword Register No.85 (18)
Type: Koto tanto
Nagasa: 25.8 cm Moto-haba: 2.3 cm Saki-haba: 1.7 cm
Sugata: Kamuri-otoshi, iori-mune, slightly uchi-zori, naginata-hi with traces of another hi now polished away.
Jihada: Mostly mokume-hada with distinct masame near the hamon.
Hamon: Suhuha in nie and rich in activities such as sunagaeshi and short kinsuji, the sunagaeshi forming uchinoke occasionally, widening towards the kissaki and forming a ko-maru boshi with kaeri.
Nakago: Slightly suriage, kiri-yasurime and kiri-jiri, one mekugi-ana and signed BISHU JU MASAHIRO SAKU on the omote.
This
tanto is of a most elegant shape, the slight uchi-zori (curvature towards the
cutting edge) giving the appearance
of great antiquity. Fortunately the slight suriage has not interfered with
either the mei or the overall shape of the blade. The fukura is quite long and
together with the elegant sugata, gives the blade a dynamic quality and an
impression of sharpness.. Both the long fukura and the relative thinness of the
kasane, indicate that the date of manufacture is probably no later than the
Nambokucho period. The jigane is clear and the jihada is mostly mokume, but
becomes a strong masame near the hamon area. The nie-deki suguha hamon shows a
number of activities that indicate an association with Yamato-den. Especially
the strong masame in close proximity to the hamon (a feature known as wake-no-kitae
or divided kitae) is especially indicative of the Ko-Mihara school of Bingo
province.
The
school was founded by Masaie Saemonjo in Bingo province in the late Kamakura or
early Nambokucho period, and his
son was named Masahiro. They were both known to work in the ancient style shown
in this piece and whilst Masaie’s work is rare, Masahiro’s is more
plentiful. This particular piece is thought to be by the 2nd
generation Masahiro.
The
school continued into the early Muromachi period where it is known as the
Chu-Mihara, although rthere are few extant works from this time. Towards the end
of the Muromachi period, the so-called Sue-Mihara school was active. All the
swordsmiths of the Mihara school included the character “Masa” in their
names.
This sword was previously only discussed in written form in the To-ken Society Programme and has now been adapted for this website.
Clive Sinclaire
May 2007