260. A Bizen Osafune Tachi

Muromachi Period, dated 1490, signed Bishu Osafune Tadamitsu

Configuration (sugata) with longitudinal ridge line (shinogi zukuri), shallow peaked back (iori-mune), and small point (ko-kissaki), length (nagasa) : 2 shaku, 3 sun, 2 bu (70cm): curvature (sori): strong koshi-zori of 2.2cm: increase in width of blade (fumbari): 1.1cm: carving (horimono): futatsujihi with maru-dome.

Forging Pattern (jihada): Small wood grain approaching pear skin (ko-itame/nashiji)

Tempering Pattern (hamon): medium suguba in excellent ko-nie, becoming slightly wider at the yokote with insinuations of swept sands (sunagashi) in the monouchi.

Point (boshi): small and rounded (ko-kissake).

Tang (nakago): Shape (keitia): regular and unshortened (ubu); file marks (yarisume):sujikai: end (nakagojiri): rounded (kurijiri): holes (meguki-ana): three: Signature (tachimei): Bishu Osafune Tadamitsu, dated Entoku 2 (1490), eighth month

Shirasaya.

Kenuki tachi-koshirae in full silver mounts, 19th century, comprising: a nashiji lacquer saya decorated with jomon and kaiemon of the Matsudaira family of Kameyama: The tsuka decorated with stylized jomon: the remainder of the fuchi mounts in silver: deerskin ashigawa-length of koshirae 99cm, length of tsuka 24.2cm: tsuba height 8.1cm, width 7.6cm, thickness 9mm.

Wood storage box. Brocade and silk storage bags.

Accompanied by an origami by Hon’ami Tadaaki, dated Bunkyu 1 (1861): a futsu kicho token certificate issued by the NBTHK, no number, dated showa 34 (1959): and a tokubetsu kicho koshirae certificate issued by the NBTHK, no number, dated showa 34 (1959). $60,000-$80,000.