説明

Antique Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed by Kunitsugu with NBTHK Tokubestsu Hozon Certificate 【Description】 This blade was signed by Echizen no Kami Fujiwara Kunitsugu (越前守藤原国次) during the early Edo period (Kan-Ei era: 1624-1644 ). The back side of the signature says that it was made of western carbon steel (Nanbantetsu). During the early Edo period, it was common to use newly imported western carbon steel to forge Japanese swords among skilled swordsmiths. Kunitsugu was known as an apprentice for Dewa Daijo Kunimichi (出羽大掾国路), one of the most renowned swordsmiths in Yamashiro province (Today’s Kyoto) during the early Edo period. Kunitsugu was born in Echizen province (Today’s Fukui prefecture) but moved to Yamashiro province to become an apprentice for Kunimichi. They both belonged to Horikawa school, one of the most prestigious schools back then. It was founded by Horikawa Kunihiro. Kunimichi (his master) and Kunitsugu also collaborated to make blades, which is called Gassaku. It is said that Kunitsugu regularly did Daisaku for Kunimichi. Daisaku is a regular act where an apprentice or a child of the swordsmith signs his master’s name with his master’s permission or forges a blade on behalf of the master. That means that his master highly acknowledged Kunitsugu’s craftsmanship. That is also why there aren’t many remaining blades signed by Kunitsugu, who dedicated his career to helping his master. Considering the fact that they forged blades together and Kunitsugu did Daisaku for Kunimichi, they must have had a very close relationship and trusted each other. Kunitsugu received an honorable official title of Echizen Daijo in the 11th year of the Kan-Ei era (1634) and was promoted to Echizen no Kami by the 14th year of the Kan-Ei era (1637). Daijo or Kami was given by the emperor for one’s excellent craftsmanship. Later in his career, he moved to Higo province (Today’s Kumamoto prefecture) with one of his apprentices to teach sword-forging techniques there. On the middle part of the blade, we see Homare Kizu (誉疵), which tells us that this blade was used in a battle. Homare Kizu is considered a good blade characteristic that tells us its history. This blade is appraised as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token (特別保存刀剣) issued by NBTHK(Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai:日本美術刀剣保存協会). This authentication paper was only given to authentic Japanese swords, especially well preserved and high quality with artistic value. 【Blade】 Cutting Edge Length(Nagasa) : 46.8 cm ( 18.4 inches) Curvature(Sori) : 1.0 cm ( 0.39 inches) Hamon : The crystalline structure which forms along the cutting edge of a blade as a result of the hardening process Jimon(Jihada) : visible steel surface pattern created by folding and hammering during forging process Nakago : Nakago is the tang of the Japanese sword. Japanese swordsmiths left the black rust on the tang because it prevents red rust while the tang is in its handle. And the discoloration of the tang was created over time, and it is a great indicator for a Japanese sword specialist to estimate when the sword was forged. Koshirae: Koshirae is the mounting of the Japanese sword. There are several parts that consist of Koshirae such as Saya(Scabbard), Tsuka( Handle), Tsuba(Handguard). Fuchi-Kashira : A pair of matching sword fittings that cover the upper and bottom parts of its sword hilt. This Fuchi Kashira is made from copper, and it seems golden paint was initially applied to several parts. You can see that the Ume (梅, Japanese apricot blossom) flowers are designed on both Fuchi and Kashira parts. Japanese apricot blossoms begin to bloom in winter that snow still covers its tree, so people thought this flower tells the arrival of spring. Same as cherry blossom, it has been appreciated for a long time in Japan. People enjoy its adorable petal shape and scent, gracefully branched tree, and compose many poems. As it comes out in the cold season, it symbolizes the power of perseverance and vitality. Tsuka and Menuki : Tsuka

Early Edo Wakizashi Signed by Kunitsugu for sale | Samurai Museum Shop
売切れ
Tokuho売切れ

Early Edo Wakizashi Signed by Kunitsugu for sale | Samurai Museum Shop

脇差

売却済

世界81社の刀剣商を横断追跡 · 価格履歴 · 売却アーカイブ

仕様

長さ

46.8 cm

反り

1 cm

流派について

Horikawa School堀川派

堀川派は、山城国京都の一条堀川を本拠として、十六世紀末から十七世紀初頭にかけて成立した新刀期の一門である。祖の堀川国広はもと日向飫肥の城主伊東家に仕えた武士で、主家没落の後は諸国を遍歴して鍛刀の技を磨き、足利学校打や美濃大道との合作などにその足跡を銘文へ残した。慶長四年(一五九九)以後は京一条堀川に定住し、多くの俊秀を糾合してこれを育てた。その門からは出羽大掾国路、和泉守国貞(親国貞)、河内守国助、越後守国儔、大隅掾正弘、堀川国安らが輩出する。国広以前の関や末相州の作風を経て、定住後の一門は相州伝、就中、志津や貞宗、左文字の復興を共通の理想に掲げた。慶長新刀の姿に南北朝期の大太刀を磨上げた趣を写し、明寿と並んで新刀の創始を称えられる祖を戴いて、この派は京の鍛冶を改めた起点に立つ。 一門の作風は、地鉄にまず標識を持つ。板目に杢や大板目を交えて肌立つ、いわゆる「ザングリとした」枯れた肌合を呈し、地沸が微塵に厚くつき、地景が細かに頻りに入る。区際より斜めに立つ水影は国広自身の手癖で、正弘や国安、国正にも伝わる。刃は浅いのたれを基調に互の目や尖り刃を交えて沸厚く、金筋や砂流しがかかり、処々に湯走りや飛焼を見せ、匂口が沈みごころとなるのが一派に通じる癖である。刃区を深く焼き込む態も国広に始まり門弟へ及ぶ。この共通の地刃の上に、各工は己の差を置く。国路は肌立ちザングリと枯れた地に厚く荒い沸の志津写しを焼き、浅くのたれ込んで先の尖る三品帽子を見せて、一門中随一の器用人と称された。国安は受領銘を用いず必ず二字に切り、左利きゆえに逆筋違の鑢目を切る唯一の工で、その手は最も祖に近い。正弘は大乱れを焼かず、焼を低く刃取りを抑えて目立つ杢を交え、作風も銘字の藤原の二字に至るまで祖に酷似する。国儔はかえって末関に向かい、頭の丸い互の目と締った匂口に兼之を思わせる美濃の一脈を担った。弘幸は一門ただ一人切り鑢を用い、黒みをおびた鉄に古作大和を想わせる直刃を本領とした。 蒐集家が堀川派を求める理由は、鑑定の勘所と、祖と高弟の格にある。在銘作を主体とし、慶長打は太鏨肩落の大振り二字銘や、日州古屋住から洛陽一条堀川住に至る受領銘を交えるため、銘そのものが工と時を定める手懸りとなる。国広の刀は、ザングリの地、斜めの水影、沈む匂口という手癖を写し物の中にすら宿し、相州伝復興の理想を最も高く体現する。高弟もまた、それぞれの極めの言うところで分かたれる。国路の三品帽子と長い金筋、国安の二字銘と逆鑢、正弘の抑えた焼と目立つ杢、国儔の頭の丸い互の目、弘幸の切り鑢と黒い鉄は、いずれも対手から借りた特徴ではなく己の地刃から引かれた標識である。代表作には伝後水尾天皇御寄進の拵を具して幡枝八幡宮に伝わる奉納太刀があり、伝来は日向伊東家、岡山藩家老伊木家、土佐山内家、大島津家、豊臣秀頼、皇室に及ぶ。最晩年の国広作は弟子の代作代銘と読まれるが、師の監督は厳重で偽物とは全く異なる。そして親国貞と河内守国助は国儔に学んで大坂へ下り、大坂新刀の草創に立った。国貞の嗣は井上真改として、その名を一層名高い世代へと継ぐ。京の堀川に始まった相州伝復興の手は、かくして後世の新刀へと流れていった。

刀剣商

サムライミュージアム

samuraimuseum.jp

売切れ