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Izumi no Kami Kunisada

S0530

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COST AND TIME INVOLVED WITH POLISHING AND SHINSA, THE PRICE IS REDUCED TO $6,500

A suriage Katana.  signed, Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kunisada.   Shinogizukure, a wide blade  with toriizori, iroi mune, chu kissaki.   Hawatare: 2 shaku 2 sun 6 bu  3 rin (68.58 cm or  127") .  Motohaba: 3.127 cm.  Sakihaba:  2.25 cm,  Kasane:   6.94 mm.   Nie deki, deep bright habuchi, elongated gunome midare, l tobiyaki, hataraki, kinsuji, nado.  tight itame with fine ji nie, long chikei, nado.  The boshi is hakikaki.   In  heavy shirasaya He made katana that are rated Juyo Token. Rated  jojosaku in Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen, with a sharpness rating of wazamono.    Valued at  8,000,000 yen value in Toko Taikan  , and the multiple  pages of coverage in Shinto Taikan The hamon is easily viewed in hand.  However, unfortunately, the blade had surface rust removed with a polishing agent that makes photography almost impossible.    This is an absolutely stunning work by a mature smith.  The bottom strokes of the mi kanji are done in the style of works in  his 60's. 

He is often referred to as Oya Kunisada, since he was the father of Shinkai., and credited with founding the Osaka school of sword smithing.     He was most active around  (1624 - 1644), he died in Keian go nen (1652).    Legend has him as studying under Horikawa Kunihiro.  However, family papers, including those of Shinkai, have him studying under Echhigo no Kami  Kunitoshi, which makes more sense stylistically.  He had moved from Hyuga to Osaka by 1621.  There is a dated example signed, "Sesshu Osaka ju Fujiwara Kunisada". He received the title of Izumi no Kami in 1623.  Interestingly Homma Kunzan thought that his general work was superior to that of the second generation, Izumi no Kami Kunisada (Shinkai), although other references rate and value Shinkai's work much more highly  $8,500

 

                

Ttis is the style of his latere signature

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Note the Variation in Reference Signatures

              

Signature Variations - Early to Late

 

Toko Taikan

 

Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen

 

Shinto Taikan

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