EXQUISITE JAPANESE GOLD DECORATED KATANA WITH TACHI MOUNTS

EXQUISITE JAPANESE GOLD DECORATED KATANA WITH TACHI MOUNTS

02-25510

This breath-taking katana would more accurately be termed an itomaki no tachi. It appears to be of the Edo period as indicated by the decorative motifs utilized. We have been unable to remove the tsuka but suspect that the blade may be much earlier. The overall length is 40″ and the blade measures 26 1/2″. The blade has a relatively wide irregular hamon with a gold plated habaki. Below the tsuba is a single darkened seppa with a gold plated seppa next to the habaki. Above the tsuba are 3 darkened seppa topped by a single gilded seppa. The tsuba has a darkened ground with gold edges and elaborately embellished corners. There are also several repeating mon around the tsuba. The top and bottom of the tsuba are identical. The fuchi and kashira are similarly decorated with golden edges and repeating mon throughout. The tsuka-ito is a bronze color and wraps over gold encrusted silk cloth. The heavily gilded menuki are made up of 3 mon each showing 8 smaller circles surrounding a central larger circle. The saya is quite breath-taking with a body of bronze colored nashiji and a saya-maki with golden silk cloth beneath, matching the tsuka. The mounts on the saya all have a darkened ground with gold highlighted decorations, primarily consisting of family mon. The koiguchi appears to be a later replacement for the original. The same golden mon, consisting of 8 smaller circles around a central circle, repeats throughout the length of the saya. The ashi appears to be buff leather with family mon terminals. The silk suspension cord connected to the ashi is black, purple, white, and green. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: certification paperwork dated May 25, 1984 with a detailed description of the sword. A Japanese document describing the sword and mounts with a photograph of the sword with a red Japanese seal. (02-25510/BF).