My Private Collection Items that I include in my private collection must meet exceptionally high standards in terms of technical qualities such as: material, craftsmanship, artist, school, period, and overall quality.There must also be a certain emotional connection — a good feeling — before an item becomes part of my collection., buying and selling antique Japanese Swords such as Katana’s, Wakizashi’s and Tanto’s
 
Tanto-1 Den (Naoe Shizu)

Tanto-1 Den (Naoe Shizu)

 一般情報 General information

製品番号 Product No.

Tanto-001.

剣の種類 Sword type

短刀 Tanto.

MEI

無銘  直江志津(伝)無銘 MUMEI. Attributed to Naoe Shizu (Den).

時代 Era

南北朝時代 Nanbokuchô period, 1336-1392

日付 Date

ca. 1375-1390

Province         

美濃 Mino 

School

直江志津伝 Naoe Shizu Den.

Teacher/Father

未知 unknown

 

 

 

 

寸法  Measurements

長さ Nagasa

26.4 cm       

反り Sori

0.10 cm

元幅 Motohaba

2.61 cm

先幅 Sakihaba

2.10 cm

重ね Kasane

0.54 cm

Nakago

10.4 cm

 

 

 

 

鑑定書 Kantei-sho

日本美術刀剣保存協会     NBTHK Certificate

特別保存刀剣 Tokubetsu Hozon tōken

他の証明書                      Other certificate 登録証明書 (Torokusho) Registration certificate present. 登録番号 Registration number: 140111
考課 Appraisal                    鑑定 Kantei                         上々作 Jyo Jyo Saku  
状態 Status 上等 Superior
研磨 Polish 平均研磨上記 above average polishing
切れ味の分類                Classification on sharpness 業物 Wazamono

 

 

 

 

詳細 Details

姿 Sugata 

平造,庵棟 Hira-zukuri, Ihori-mune

Hada

小板目(結構),柾目,地沸  ko-itame (Very fine),Masame, Ji, Nie

切先 Kissaki

Go/Chu kissaki. small round shape and long Yakusage style.

刃文 Hamon

五の目乱れ,湾れ,匂い出来  Gumone-Midare, Notare, Nioi-Deki

彫物  Horimone

棒被 (両面) Bō hi (ryōmen) (Both-side)

帽子 Bōshi

返りる深く Kaeri-Fukashi

中心 Nakago

大擦上 Ō-suriage, yasurime, katte-sagari.

目釘穴 Mekugi-ana

二目釘孔 2 Mekugi-holes

はばき Habaki

Gold folded Habaki.

 

 

 

 

え拵 Koshirae

え拵 Koshirae:

合口拵 Aikuchi style koshirae.

School:  Kumagai school (also called Higo style). 

Country:江戸 Edo.

時代 Era:    中江戸時代 Middle Edo period.

小柄 Kozuka:

設計Design:Verry nice open-work style.  

School:   長崎 Nagasaki, Nanban. 

Country: 肥前 Hizen-koku.

時代 Era:     中江戸時代 Middle Edo period.

小刀 Kogatana:

MEI:       丹波守吉道 Tanba-no-kami Yoshimichi. (2nd gen. or later).  

Country: 山城 Yamashiro.

School:   吉道 Yoshimichi.

時代 Era:    中江戸時代 Middle Edo period.

 

 

 

 

白鞘  Shira-saya

短刀 :白鞘入り. Tanto blade stored in Shira-saya. Comes with a purple-coloured silk bag.

 

 

 

 

鞘書 Sayagaki

Omote:

大磨上    無銘   伝   (直江志津)

O-suriage    Mumei    Den (Naoe Shizu)

Ura:

観応     長八寸七分

Kano     Hachi sun Shichi bu

(Author of the Sayagaki is unknown)

 

 

 

 

追加情報                   Additional Information

The judgment on the authentic as expressed in the description above was confirmed by “Nippon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyokai” (NBTHK) issuing a 特別保存刀剣 Tokubetsu hozon tōken certificate: number 1007693

Provided on 平成三十年三月十 30th year in Heisei, 3th Month, 15th Day.  2018 315 March. 15, 2018.

This Tanto is a good example of Soshu Den style work from the middle Nanbokucho period. Personally, I think this Tanto can be attributed to a second generation Soshu Den blacksmith/ pupil.

Good quality Soshu swords (this applies to all quality swords) is hard to find these days. Nihonto collectors are very fond of Soshu work, good Soshu works are always very exciting and dynamic. This tanto shows many features of Soshu Den, mainly reflected in the Shizu style hamon.

I think this Tanto has a good, 重要 Juyo shinsa, (NBTHK) potential for the future: ATTENTION: this does require more background research. This Tanto is a great addition / step for anyone who wants to have a good Soshu sample, but can’t afford Juyo work yet.

As for koshirae, it will easily get a Hozon certificate, I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate either. Here is a challenge for the new owner.

 Overall a nice set of 日本刀 Nihonto and外装 koshirae stored in a varnish-lacquered 桐箱 Paulownia-box (Kiri).

 

 

 

 

歴史 History

特徴:

志津とは元来美濃の国の地名であるが、この地に正宗十哲の一人に数えられる刀工の兼氏が来住し作刀をしたところから地名をとって志津三郎兼氏と呼称されで、兼氏の弟子のうち、兼友、兼次、兼重など美濃で活動した者を直江志津と称す。

本作は刃文に沸がつき、砂流しがかかり匂口が明るい点や地景がよく入った地鉄などに直江志津の特徴が現れた作品で、明るい雰囲気の作品です。

 

Features:

Shizu was originally a place name in Mino Province, but when Kanetsugu, a swordsmith counted among the Ten Great Disciples of Masamune, came to reside in this area and forged swords, he took the place name and became known as Shizu Saburo Kanetsugu.

Among Kanetsugu’s disciples, those who worked in Mino such as Kanetomo, Kanetsugu, and Kaneshige are referred to as Naoe Shizu.

This work displays characteristics of Naoe Shizu, such as a hamon with nie, sunagashi activity, a bright nioiguchi, and jigane with well-incorporated chikei, resulting in a piece with a bright impression.

 

The (直江志津派) Naoe shizu school was a Japanese sword school founded by some pupils of Shizu Saburo Kaneeuzi (志津三郎兼氏). The Naoe village (直江村), which was a village in the northern part of Shizu. In the Mino province (美濃).

Famous swordsmiths from the Naoe shizu school are:

Kanetomo (兼友)

Kanetsugu (兼次)

Kanetoshi (兼俊)

Kanetoshi (兼利)

Kanetsugu (兼次)

Kaneuji (兼氏)

Kanenobu (兼信)

Kanenobu (兼延)

Most Naoe Shizu group swords are (unfortunately) are Suriage, O-Suriage cut down, with lost or MEI/signatures as a result.

価格 Price € 9750,–        (Shipping fee is not included in the price).  

PS: More photos available on request!