Around 1800 Suishinshi Masahide argued in his writings that the craft must return to the old masters’ methods: the fukkotō revival. His greatest successor Naotane worked convincingly in Bizen and Sōshū manners that had been dead for centuries.
This is a fine tantō by Sukenaga, the best smith of the Shinshintō-era Bizen-Yokoyama group, dated August 1844. It features a classical hira zukura shape with a dense ko-itame hada and an irregular choji-midare hamon. The blade comes with understated but finely made aikuchi koshirae, possibly older than the blade, and is accompanied by a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate from the NBTHK.
Certificate reading — 銘 横山加賀介藤原祐永 天保十五年八月日 (菊紋)一備陽長船住
NihontoWatchmei · Yokoyama Bizen · Shin-shinto · nagasa 30.1cm · sori 0.3cm
Bizen-den · Bizen · around 1830-1844
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 63%
13 pieces on the market now
Bizen-den · Bizen
43 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukenobu祐信 | 1830-1844 | 0 |
| Suketaka祐高 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sukeharu祐春 | 1864-1865 | 0 |
| Sukehiro祐廣 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sukekane祐包 | 1868-1912 | 0 |
The Shinshintō revival
Around 1800 Suishinshi Masahide argued in his writings that the craft must return to the old masters’ methods: the fukkotō revival. His greatest successor Naotane worked convincingly in Bizen and Sōshū manners that had been dead for centuries.
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 siteReturns accepted on items ordered from the site when an item does not appear to be as depicted and described; buyer must notify via email within 7 days of receipt. Refund covers purchase price minus shipping, bank fees, and currency conversion. Sales on items paid in terms are final, as are sales of items personally inspected.
€10,700
This is a fine tantō by Sukenaga, the best smith of the Shinshintō-era Bizen-Yokoyama group, dated August 1844. It features a classical hira zukura shape with a dense ko-itame hada and an irregular choji-midare hamon. The blade comes with understated but finely made aikuchi koshirae, possibly older than the blade, and is accompanied by a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate from the NBTHK.
Certificate reading — 銘 横山加賀介藤原祐永 天保十五年八月日 (菊紋)一備陽長船住
NihontoWatchmei · Yokoyama Bizen · Shin-shinto · nagasa 30.1cm · sori 0.3cm
Bizen-den · Bizen · around 1830-1844
Fujishiro Jo saku · Tōken Taikan top 63%
13 pieces on the market now
Bizen-den · Bizen
43 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Sukenobu祐信 | 1830-1844 | 0 |
| Suketaka祐高 | 1865-1868 | 0 |
| Sukeharu祐春 | 1864-1865 | 0 |
| Sukehiro祐廣 | 1854-1860 | 0 |
| Sukekane祐包 | 1868-1912 | 0 |
The Shinshintō revival
Around 1800 Suishinshi Masahide argued in his writings that the craft must return to the old masters’ methods: the fukkotō revival. His greatest successor Naotane worked convincingly in Bizen and Sōshū manners that had been dead for centuries.
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 siteReturns accepted on items ordered from the site when an item does not appear to be as depicted and described; buyer must notify via email within 7 days of receipt. Refund covers purchase price minus shipping, bank fees, and currency conversion. Sales on items paid in terms are final, as are sales of items personally inspected.
€10,700
