A JAPANESE SWORD (KATANA)

£2,500 - £3,500

A JAPANESE SWORD (KATANA)

Blade 24.75 in., hon-zukuri with hi full-length to each side, hamon based on notare, itame hada, nakago with ichimonji nakagojiri, mumei, gilt-copper habaki with neko-gaki supported by a separate silvered-copper collar; moko-gata tsuba of shakudō richly encrusted with gilded chrysanthemums against a nanako ground; tsuka and saya with handachi fittings all embellished with birds flying over turbulent waters in low relief highlighted with gold and silver, the body of the saya in black lacquer flecked with chopped straw - kuro-urushi Ishimi-ji; offered with a katana bukuro in green and gold fabric.

Provenance: from an English private collection, Devon.