Description:

East Asia, Japan, Azuchi-Momoyama period, Koto era, ca. 1500s CE. A wakizashi steel blade with a wooden lacquered saya sheath. The blade tang is signed "Tomoyuki" and attributed to the Takada school in Bungo. Tomoyuki is a renowned swordsmith from the medieval period, celebrated as the founder of the Bungo Takada school of sword-making. Based in present-day Oita Prefecture, this school became famous for producing blades in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. It is probable this blade was made by a member of this prestigious school or maker lineage. The habaki collar is gilt copper and the wood saya is lacquered with coppery pigment flakes for a stippled effect! The wakizashi is traditionally paired with the longer katana sword marked the wearer as a samurai. This shorter sword was seen as an auxiliary weapon, also used for fighting in close quarters. Wakizashi could also be worn by non-samurai if worn alone, and members of the merchant class for protection. Size in sheath: 26" L x 1.6" W (66 cm x 4.1 cm); blade: 15.2" L x 1" W (38.6 cm x 2.5 cm); gold quality: 17%

Provenance: private Kihei, Hawaii, USA collection, purchased from I.M. Chait Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, October 19, 1997, lot 295

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#189518

  • Condition: Polishing flaws and nicks to blade surface. Missing handle. Chips and abrasions to the saya sheath on the lacquered surface near the tip. Stable hairline fissure on the rim opening.

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December 6, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000