A koto Wakizashi in homemade shirasaya Sugata:  Kanmuri-Ot...

Hammer

£320

A koto Wakizashi in homemade shirasaya

• Sugata:  Kanmuri-Otoshi-Zukuri Iori-mune.


• Nagasa:. 44.0cm


• Motohaba: 2.8cm Sakihaba: 2.1 cm Kasane: 6mm


• Hada: itame but details obscured by light abrasion+


• Hamon: very active choji/ midare with isolated togari peaks


• Kissaki: chu-kissaki boshi not visible


• Nakago:  Ubu with two mekugi-ana. Signed with narrow chisel  Bishu (ju) Masaiye saku.


• Koshirae homemade shirasaya

Provenance: gifted 1962/63.

Lots 539-543 comprise a collection of Japanese edged weapons assembled by the late Mr MacCormick between 1953 and 1963, with one final addition added in 1998. They were all purchased within the UK at local auctions, antique shops or privately. They have never been submitted for shinsa. 

All of the works are in largely untouched condition and a professional polish would undoubtedly reveal more detail of hada, hamon and boshi. Equally the koshirae include a number of interesting tsuba and small fittings which are worthy of further study and preservation. 

Mellors & Kirk gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Paul Bowman in the cataloguing of this collection