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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by Artemis Fine Arts
January 30, 2025 8:00 AM MST
686 S. Taylor Ave., #108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Artemis Fine Arts

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