KNIFE called Tanto signed Fujiwara Kunishige Saku
Japan
Edo period (1603-1868)
Steel, wood, lacquer, copper, shibuichi, gold, shakudo
Nagasa: 26.8; Nakago: 9.5 cm

Hira tsukuri type blade, mune hikushi, kawazu choji type hamon.
Ko maru type boshi.
Nakago funa gata et ha hagari kuri jiri.
Copper habaki.
Saya made of wood covered with matte red lacquer.
Iron kojiri, decorated with gold cherry blossoms.
Kuri gata and koi guchi in buffalo horn.
Chiseled brass shitodome.
Wooden tsuka ito, covered in shagreen, braided with black silk.
Fuchi and kashira in copper covered with shibuichi, chiseled with pine cones in shakudo with gold branches – a reference to the matsu (pine) tree, a symbol of longevity, resistance and endurance, constancy and fidelity, prosperity and good fortune.
Menuki representing the migi mitsu tomo-yé, a triple (tomo-yé) turning to the left (hidari), jô-mon (main coat of arms) of Funa-koshi, Hashi-moto, Hiji-kata, Ita-kura of An-naka and Niwa-sé; Ko-baya-kawa, Ku-ki of Aya-bé, Miya-nari, O-gura, Oka-bé, Ô-ki, Ô-miya, Shô-taï, Ume-zono, Yama-moto; and the kaye-mon (secondary coat of arms) of the Ari-me of Ku-ru-mé and Fuki-age, Ita-kura of Fuku-shima; in gold.
Iron tsuba, engraved with chrysanthemums, signed; copper sekigane.
Kogatana with signed blade and amon, copper kotsuka-hitsu, covered with shakudo, with geometric patterns, oak leaves and a shi-shi, all enhanced with gold.
Openwork umabari, decorated with three “go-san no kiri” (v. “kiri-mon”) in gold; “kaye-mon” (secondary coat of arms) of Kuchi-ki, Ku-ki of San-da, Matsu-daïra of Ito-i-gawa and Mo-ri (see “Matsu-daïra”), Mori of A-kô and Mi-ka-zuki, O-gasa-wara of Kara-tsu, O-ta of Kashiwa-bara, Séki, Sen-goku, Tani and Waki-zaka.
Seppa in chiseled gilt copper.

Ref.: 7415

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON