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Hamon : Sugu-yakidashi becoming Fuji-san and then gunome midare. The pattern is repeated on both sides. There are saka-ashi and ashi. The hamon is nie-deki and the nioi-guchi is bright.
Boshi : Midare-komi. The kaeri is long on both sides.
Kitae : Ko-itame hada. The forging pattern is clear and there is abundant ji-nie throughout the entire ji. Tobiyaki is present in several areas.
About this sword : This is a fine katana by the shodai Seiryūshi Moritoshi. He was most active around Kaei (1848-1854). This example was made the 8th month of the year of the Water tiger, in the 13th year of the Tenpo era - 1842. He used many different mei amd mei styles in his career. This katana bears his go of Seiryushi. He was originally an armourer under Iwai Takesuke Morimasa. In 1834, he was granted the family name of Iwamoto and began an apprenticeship as Chounsai Tsunatoshi's student. Later in his life, he studied under Koyama Munetsugu. Moritoshi worked for the Iwakuni fief of the Suo province which was ruled by the Kikkawa family. He died in 1867 at the age of 66.
The sugata of this blade with its dragon and bonji horimono represents the spirit of shin-shinto times brilliantly. This is a period when such progressive works with long nagasa were in vogue. The picturesque hamon with Fuji-san shown on both sides further exemplifies this. Also, this is an example that Moritoshi signed with large, powerful kanji and in reisho script, showing his pride in this katana’s craftmanship.
This katana is accompanied by an Edo period koshirae. It features an Akasaka school tsuba and fuchi kashira of iron with shi-shi dogs. The menuki are large dragons that are gold over copper. The saya is done in black urushi with an iron kojiri. The koshirae compliments the blade well and is a classic example of a buke-zukuri koshirae. There is a tsunagi for the mounts and a shira-saya for the blade. A gold foil over copper habaki accompanies the blade
This katana is in professional Japanese polish. It comes with a NBTHK Hozon paper. There is also a storage bag for the blade as well as one for the koshirae. It is ubu, mounted, signed, dated, very long, healthy with horimono and by a well-known smith.
$13,500
