Sugata: Shinogi-Zukuri Iori-mune with shallow tori-zori
Nagasa: 38.6cm
Motohaba: 2.7cm Sakihaba: 2.1cm Kasane: 6mm
Hada: Itame/nagare but detail obscured by light abrasion.
Hamon: Suguha with ko-gunome
Kissaki: Chu-kissaki with slight damage to tip details of boshi not visible
Nakago: Ubu, one mekugi ana, kurijiri Kesho yasurimei
Koshirae light brown silk braid bound same tsuka, iron mokkogata tsuba. Menuki monkeys with baskets of flowers. Fuchi kashira vines in gold over fine shakudo nanako. Gold foil covered copper habaki (damaged) Black ishimei lacquered saya.
Provenance: purchased in a local UK antique shop 1958.
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
