A Setsu katana with a cutting test inscription
By Masamitsu, dated 1864
Hon-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-gissaki, torii-zori forged in itame-hada with a sugu-ba hamon in nie and a ko-maru boshi, the tang ubu, kuri-jiri with two holes and katte-sagari file marks, tachi-mei Hatakeyama Yamato (no) suke Minamoto (no) ason Masamitsu tsukuru and dated on the ura side Ganji gan-nen go-gatsu kichi jitsu (an auspicious day in the fifth month of 1864) and illegibly inscribed Futatsu-do [] donen ku-gatsu juhachi-nichi ni oite and illegibly signed [] Yamada Kichitoyo; one-piece copper habaki; 29 1/2in (74.9cm) long; in a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard)
Hon-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-gissaki, torii-zori forged in itame-hada with a sugu-ba hamon in nie and a ko-maru boshi, the tang ubu, kuri-jiri with two holes and katte-sagari file marks, tachi-mei Hatakeyama Yamato (no) suke Minamoto (no) ason Masamitsu tsukuru and dated on the ura side Ganji gan-nen go-gatsu kichi jitsu (an auspicious day in the fifth month of 1864) and illegibly inscribed Futatsu-do [] donen ku-gatsu juhachi-nichi ni oite and illegibly signed [] Yamada Kichitoyo; one-piece copper habaki; 29 1/2in (74.9cm) long; in a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard)
Sold for
US$ 6,000
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Provenance: Previously sold Butterfield and Butterfield, San Francisco, 19 November, 1979 Important Japanese Swords, Sword Fittings, and Armor, lot 45F.
This is an example of Masamitsu's later work. The cutting test states the blade cut through two torsos cleanly. Cutting tests performed this late in the Edo period are extremely rare.
Auction Notices
- Please note that this lot is accompanied by NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho certificate, no. 196483, dated 1970.10.3.
Category: Asian Art / Japanese Art
Auction terms and conditions
Contacts
Jeff Olson
Bonhams
Work
580 Madison Avenue
New York,
10022
United States
WorkTel:
+1 212 461 6516
FaxFax: +1 212 644 9007
Specialist
-
Japanese Art