This is an extremely rare matched set of Nanban-style kogai and kogatana, known as futatokoromono. It was awarded Tokubetsu Hozon by the NBTHK, a high honor rarely granted to Nanban material. The set features elaborately pierced and chiseled handles with dragon carp, sacred jewels, and water caltrop motifs, with gold damascening on the front sides.
Certificate reading — 無銘（南蛮）
NihontoWatchEdo
Nanban School
Edo
Nagasaki
Tokuho (NBTHK)
Iron-tsuba
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.
€6,500
