Japanese Sword Online Museum

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Katana Masterpiece

Katana: Kurihara Chikuzen Kami Nobuhide / keio 3Nen 8 Gatsuhi

2017/01/28

Katana in Shirasaya, with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Paper)

Signature:Kurihara Chikuzen Kami Nobuhide.
keio 3Nen 8 Gatsuhi.

The blade was polished by high ranking polisher.
Habaki:Gold single foiled habaki(Kasyu habaki)
Blade length : 71.7 cm or 28.22 inches.
Sori : 1.6 cm or 0.62 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi :2.97 cm or 1.16 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.11 cm or 0.83 inches.
Kasane : 0.7 cm or0.27 inches.
Era : Late Edo period.
Shape : The blade is wide and thick with deep sori and longer kissaki nice looking shape.
Jitetsu :Koitame had well grained with jinie attach clear nice Jigane.
Hamon : Niedeki gunome midair with deep nioikuchi and
in Ha, there are many sunagashi and also long kinsuji work.
Boshi is midarekomi style with long kinsuji.

Special feature :
He was born at Echigo province and moved to Kyoto and made Japanese mirror engraving
on the back design and got high reputation.
But he decided to make Japanese swords and moved to Edo and studied under the Kiyomaro.
(I think it was very difficult to be a sudden of great Kiyomaro but probably he was rich
at that time and permitted to be his student)
He was very skillful sword maker and sutdied for several years under the great master kiyomaro.
After that he moved to Uraga near Edo and then went Oosaka
and got the title of Chikuzen Kami.
He moved to Edo again and made swords at that place.
At Meiji 4th,Japanese government issued the decree banning the wearing of swords.
A lot of sword makers obliged to give up their business.
He was also stopped making swords. At Meiji 13th January 25th, he passed away.
His technique of sword making is remarkable in Kiyomaro school.
Probably he was a top ranking in Kiyomaro students. but his subject is a little different feeling from his master. He might be insist on his own concept.
This sword is nice Jigane and Hamon especially sunagashi and long kinsuji and also nice engraving.

Koshirae :
Tsuba :On the mokko style syakudo nanako plate,
the rim is engraved autumn flowers with gold color.
Fuchikashira :On the shibuichi plate, peony flower is engraved with gold color.
Saya : dark brown color.
Menuki : a shish dog is engraved by solid gold.

NBTHK Hozon Paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.

Price : JPY 2,300,000-.


-Katana, Masterpiece