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TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303) An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303 image 1
TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303) An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303 image 2
TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303) An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303 image 3
TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303) An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303 image 4
TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303) An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303 image 5
Property of a Gentleman
Lot 143

TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303)
An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana
Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303

26 October 2022, 10:00 EDT
New York

US$80,000 - US$120,000

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TŌSABURŌ YUKIMITSU (ACTIVE CIRCA 1303)

An Important Jūyō-Ranked Sōshū Katana
Kamakura period (1185-1333), circa 1303
Sugata (configuration): honzukuri, iorimune shallow toriizori, chūgissaki
Kitae (forging pattern): itamehada with much jinie and chikei
Hamon (tempering pattern): suguha in nie and nioi with ashi, yō, sunagashi, and kinsuji
Bōshi (tip): suguha, ko-maru
Horimono (carving): both sides carved with bōhi kakenagashi
Nakago (tang): ōsuriage with two holes and kiri fie marks
Habaki (collar): two-piece, gold-foil
Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 27 3/8in (69.4cm)
Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 1/8in (2.5cm)
Sakihaba (width before tip): 13/16in (2cm)
In a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard) with inscription and attestation by Honma Junji

With a certificate designating this sword as the 23rd Jūyō Tōken (Precious Sword) no. 8428 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated July 1, 1940.

Footnotes

Provenance
Fujii Manabu Collection, Hokkaido

Yukimitsu was active during in the latter part of the Kamakura period (from circa 1300-1333). He is thought to have been the student of Shintōgo Kunimitsu (born 1294), from whom he took the character in his name Tōsaburō. Together with Kunimitsu, he is recognized as one of the founders of the Sōshū tradition of sword making. Yukimitsu is also believed to have been the son of Bungo Yukihira (see lot 142), but perhaps more significantly, he was the father of Masamune (1264–1343), arguably Japan's greatest swordsmith.

Among Yukimitsu's surviving swords, only tantō bear his signature. The long swords attributed to him have all been shortened and have lost their signatures, like the present lot. Several of his swords have been designated as National Treasures.

Additional information

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