A JAPANESE SWORD (KATANA)

A JAPANESE SWORD (KATANA)

Blade 28.5 in., hon-zukuri with koshi-zori, hamon of notare midare form, itame hada, nakago appears suriage with ichimonji nakagojiri, three mekugi ana, partial mei (kagemori), silvered-copper habaki with neko-gaki; iron naga-maru-gata tsuba with a birdcage and a soaring bird in taka-zogan (perhaps a scene from 'The Safflower' in The Tale of Genji), fuchi and kashira of shakudō with komainu and peonies in relief to a nanako ground; re-wraped tsuka with menuki in the form of buffalo; saya with red-flecked black lacquer - kuro-urushi Ishimi-ji; offered with a katana bukuro in peach and gold fabric.

Provenance: from an English private collection, Devon.