Fujiwara Masahiro
S0533
A machi okure katana, signed yonjimei Fujiwara Masahiro. Hawatare: 2 Shuku 2 sun 0 bu (66.66 cm. / 26,244"). Motohaba: 3 cm. Sakihaba: 2 cm. Kasane: 6 mm. Shinogizukure, iroi mune, koshisori, chu kisaki. Chu suguba in nie deki. bright habuchi, ha-nie, kinsuji. Hadatatsu itame ko-mokume jigane packed with jinie and chikei. The nie becomes stronger near the hamon.
Masahiro was the nephew of Horikawa Kunihiro, the founder of the Horikawa school. Examples of his work are very rare. Both smiths were active around Keicho jiddai (1596 - 1515) in Hyuga, before moving to Horikawa in Yamashiro province. Masahiro works most closely resemble those of Kunihiro. Toko Taikan value: 15,000,000 yen. Fujishiro, Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen, jojo saku. Shinto Taikan shows two example, pages 700 and 701. The blade pictured on page 700 is rated Juyo Bunkasai. Were this not machi okure, this would be a solid juyo candidate. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon kanteisho.
The tsuka is black ito over high quality same, with gold and shakudo menuki, ko-kinko fuchi-kashira Muromachi or Momoyama. The Higo s tsuba is an iron oval sukashi of pine in the style of Kamiyoshi, 7.3 cm high x 6.6 cm wide 5.1 mm thick, with NBTHK Hozon kanteisho. Goto kogai shakudo branch and leaves and gold plum on a very fine nanako ground. A very fine black lacquer ribbed saya free from dents, shakudo kojiri.
This is the sort of sword that needs to be treasured as the rare and remarkable work that it is. $21,500
Higo Tsuba
Ko Kinko Fuchi-Kashira
Gold and Shakudo Menuki
Goto Kogai
Toko Taikan
Shinto Taikan (Juyo Bunkasai)
Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen
Tokubetsu Hozon Kanteisho
Hozon Kanteisho