説明

Q886. Wakizashi signed Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Ippo. Nagasa: 19 1/4″ 48.8 cm. slightly suriage (shortened) Sori: .9 cm. Moto haba: 2.9 cm. Moto kasane: .6 cm. Saki haba: 1.9 cm. Saki kasane: .4 cm. Nakago nagasa: 6 1/4″ 16 cm. Overall in shirasaya: 28 7/8″ 73.5 cm. Shinogi zukuri, koshi sori, iore mune, chu kissaki. The hada is itame mokume and, with the exception of one short tate ware’ a couple inches above the habaki on the ura and a pinprick or 2, it is flawless. The hamon is gunome choji with sunagashi, hotsure, yo, and other hataraki, in a bright and consistent nioi guchi covered (slathered) in ko nie. The boshi is shallow undulations ending in ko maru on the ura, chu maru on the omote, and a short kaeri. This is in a well done, professional polish and mounted with a silver foil habaki and in a well made shirasaya. There is a kesho paper from the NBTHK, dated 1971 and attesting to the signature, condition, and work. There is a nicely written sayagaki by Hitoshi Sato of the Japanese Art Sword Museum of Kurashiki, who used the art name Bizan (備山). The sayagaki has been translated: Tsushima-no-kami Tachibana Ippō “Art name” of Chikyū Priestly name of Tsushima-no-kami Tsunemitsu Genroku era Gunome chōji, Fine work Nagasa of 1 shaku, 6 sun, 1 bu an auspicious day in August, Reiwa 6 (2024). Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Ippo is better known from his other signature: Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Tsunemitsu. He was the younger brother of Heki Mitsuhira and, together with a third brother, they were important in the Edo Ishido School. The smiths of the Ishido School worked, quite successfully, in old style Bizen. Ippo/Tsunemitsu was born early in the 17th century and enjoyed a long life (one of his swords is signed with a note stating 73 years of age). He is rated Jo Saku in Fujishiro. A fine blade in polish and in great condition, signed with paper and sayagaki. What more could you ask? How about the price. 2 pounds.