This is a mumei tanto attributed to Nobukuni from the late Nambokucho period (c. 1390), with a nagasa of 30.0cm. It features a ko-itame hada, notare hamon, and horimono on both sides. The blade comes with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers and a beautiful koshirae with NTHK Kanteisho papers.
Certificate reading — 無銘（信国）
NihontoWatchBETAmumei · Nobukuni Ichiryu · Nanbokucho · nagasa 30cm · sori 0.48cm
Yamashiro-den · Yamashiro
28 pieces on the market now
Few Kyoto houses bridged two traditions as deliberately as Nobukuni (信国), the Yamashiro-den lineage whose work runs from the Nanbokucho period through Muromachi and on, in a western branch, into the shinto age. The first generation, the smith the NBTHK counts as shodai, is the master of the Enbun, Koan and Joji years; the older registers placed a founding Nobukuni back in the Kenmu era, but the published sources set that legend aside, since no work survives so early and the style of the oldest dated blades connects directly with that of Sadamune. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Nobukuni信國 | 1356-1361 | 69 |
| Nobukuni信國 | 1383-1392 | 33 |
| Nobukuni信國 | 1394-1428 | 44 |
| Yoshikane吉包 | 1661-1686 | 7 |
| Masanobu正信 | 1356-1361 | 4 |
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteAll swords sold for $5000 USD or less are considered final! Swords above the $5000 range may be returned for any reason within 48 hrs. Buyer will receive a full refund minus shipping/handling, insurance and or any fees incurred in shipping or sale.
This is a mumei tanto attributed to Nobukuni from the late Nambokucho period (c. 1390), with a nagasa of 30.0cm. It features a ko-itame hada, notare hamon, and horimono on both sides. The blade comes with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers and a beautiful koshirae with NTHK Kanteisho papers.
Certificate reading — 無銘（信国）
NihontoWatchBETAmumei · Nobukuni Ichiryu · Nanbokucho · nagasa 30cm · sori 0.48cm
Yamashiro-den · Yamashiro
28 pieces on the market now
Few Kyoto houses bridged two traditions as deliberately as Nobukuni (信国), the Yamashiro-den lineage whose work runs from the Nanbokucho period through Muromachi and on, in a western branch, into the shinto age. The first generation, the smith the NBTHK counts as shodai, is the master of the Enbun, Koan and Joji years; the older registers placed a founding Nobukuni back in the Kenmu era, but the published sources set that legend aside, since no work survives so early and the style of the oldest dated blades connects directly with that of Sadamune. Learn more →
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Nobukuni信國 | 1356-1361 | 69 |
| Nobukuni信國 | 1383-1392 | 33 |
| Nobukuni信國 | 1394-1428 | 44 |
| Yoshikane吉包 | 1661-1686 | 7 |
| Masanobu正信 | 1356-1361 | 4 |
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteAll swords sold for $5000 USD or less are considered final! Swords above the $5000 range may be returned for any reason within 48 hrs. Buyer will receive a full refund minus shipping/handling, insurance and or any fees incurred in shipping or sale.
