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Overview·Designations·Provenance·Blade Forms·Signatures·School
OverviewDesignationsProvenanceBlade FormsSignaturesSchool
  1. Schools
  2. Kozori
  3. Motomasa

Kozori Motomasa

基正

Jūyō
Vol. 49, No. 122 · Tachi

Kozori Motomasa

基正

4 ranked works

ProvinceBizenEraTeiji (1362–1368)PeriodNanbokuchōSchoolKozoriTraditionBizen-denGeneration1stFujishiroChu-jo sakuTypeSwordsmithCodeMOT203
1Jūyō Bijutsuhin
3Jūyō Tōken

Overview

Motomasa is recorded in sword reference compendia as a swordsmith of the school, active during the late period. The first generation is dated to the Joji era (1362-1368), with a second generation placed around the Shitoku era (1384-1387). His predecessor is said to have been the younger brother of Ko-Motoshige, and from his name it is readily understood that he was a smith close to Motomitsu within the Kanemitsu line. Whether the earliest Motomasa was truly the younger brother of Ko-Motoshige requires further research; however, his lineage places him firmly among the smiths of the late through periods.

Motomasa's forging characteristically shows mixed with and , with an overall tendency toward . Fine covers the surface, dark steel appears in a -like manner, and faint emerges. His is typically based in mixed with a wide range of forms — , , open-waisted , angular and pointed elements — producing an overall small-pattern with , together with and . The small scale of chisel-work in his signatures further emphasizes the defining traits of the style. The open-waisted manner seen in his tempering is noted as suggesting a portent of the transition toward Oei-. One rare in narrow demonstrates his range beyond the characteristic idiom.

Signed examples by Motomasa are rare, and his works are valued as documentary material for understanding the scope of his craftsmanship. Across the extant body of work, both and are praised as — sound and well-preserved — with ample and especially bright in the hardened edge. His blades possess high documentary value not only for their quality of workmanship but also for the date inscriptions they preserve from the era, providing critical reference material for the study of late production.

Designations

Kokuhō—
Jūyō Bunkazai—
Jūyō Bijutsuhin1
Gyobutsu—
Tokubetsu Jūyō—
Jūyō Tōken3

Elite Standing

0.00 across 4 designated works

Top 100% among smiths

Provenance

1 documented provenance across certified works by Motomasa

Provenance Standing

0 works held in elite collections across 1 documented provenances

Top 48% among smiths

Raw score: 2.00 / 10

Blade Forms

Distribution across 4 ranked works

Signatures

Signature types across 4 ranked works

Currently Available

Kozori School

Other artisans of the Kozori school

  1. 1.Hidemitsu秀光19designated
  2. 2.Iesuke家助1 for sale11designated
  3. 3.Nariie成家3 for sale21designated
  4. 4.Iemori家守15designated
  5. 5.Moromitsu師光1 for sale7designated
  6. 6.Morisuke守助7designated
  7. 7.Tsunehiro恒弘4designated
  8. 8.Yukimitsu幸光3designated
  9. 9.Morihiro守弘1designated
  10. 10.Norimitsu法光1 for sale2designated
  11. 11.Morimitsu守光1designated
  12. 12.Ieshige家重1designated