T125975(W8053)
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Wakizashi signed Bishu Osafune MORIMITSU In the 10 th month, Ouei 18 with)Silver cording HIRUMAKI style Vermillion lacquered scabbard Chi'sa Katanastyle Koshirae

Koto early Muromachi period (Ouei 18/1411) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 35.6cm Curvature 0.4cm Width of base 26.7cm Thickness of base 5.9mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

with)Silver cording HIRUMAKI style Vermillion lacquered scabbard Chi'sa Katana style Koshirae

 

Blade construction: Hira-zukuri Ko-wakizashi, Iori-mune in low and pronounced Fukura, Nagasa is long in proportion to the Mihaba width and almost no curvature which is assumed that this geometry in early Muromachi was due to new preferences in swordsmanship as supplement usage for a long Tachi.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is fine Mokume burl mixing with Itame-hada. The surface shows moistened beauty of jet-black luster of Chikei along Mokume and Itame hada against fine sparkling mottled Utsuri reflection in full of an archaic beauty with a sense of austerity and antiquity..
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is uniform Ko-Nie hard metal granules base, Suguaha with slight undulating Notare on base with some indication of slanted small Gunome and slight knots of Fushi. Boundary line glows softly with brilliant fine Ko-Nie and the interior is filled with dense mist of Nioi.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of Boshi is sharpened-up in Togari then turns back shortly in good manner.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original that is short in proportion to the length. Kurijiri (double-bevelled) heel shape. Two peg holes (one is filled).Katte-sagari (slanting left) filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is flat with Katte-sagari mark. The signature in Sashi-omote front starts with place of work Bishu-Osafune 備州長船 then smith name MORIMITSU 盛光. The other side is inscribed the date of year In the 10 th month, Ouei 18 (1411) 応永十八年十月日.

Ouei era in early Muromachi period after the period of Northern and Southern Dynasties Nanbokucho, some master-hand artisans appeared to look up dignified style workmanship in times of peace in Kamakura period.
First generation MORIMITSU 盛光, said reportedly a son of TOMOMITSU 倫光, or a grand son of KANEMTSU 兼光 in legitimate Osafune maker, appeared to meet with requirement either from Imperial Court or Samurai class in these peace days to revive modeling ancient idiom Kamakura style but creating unique style like this example as well.
MORIMITSU 盛光, YASUMITSU 康光 and MOROMITSU 師光 are called Ouei-Bizen Geniuses or Bizen Trio of Experts. The subject MORIMITSU 盛光 rates high "Above Superior Made (Jou-jō-saku)" as one of the most distinguished maker among these Trio of Experts and designated as an national important cultural properties in two Tachi and one Naginata also one Tachi is designated as an important art object.
Here is a legitimate masterpiece Sun-no-bi style wakizashi by the 2nd generation MORIMITSU 盛光 with a prefix the name of Shuri-no-suke 修理亮. His workmanship shares into two different styles, one models flamboyant idiom of Ichimon-ji and the other imitates simple quiet beauty of AOE style like this example.
Among entire Osafune workmanship, such noticeable Mokume-hada so called Ouei-moku is highly admired as one of the most archaic beauty unlike the other Osafune works in later ages.
The Shinogi-zukuri wakizashi in particular gradually replaced the Hira-zukuri Ko-wakizashi

with) Silver cording HIRUMAKI style Vermillion lacquered scabbard Chi'sa Katana style Koshirae
(click HERE for entire Koshirae / HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/kashira : Rabbits design, Shakudo copper alloy ground, Nanako-ji surface, Takabori, Gold Iroe, Gold rim, unsigned
  • Menuki : Fine horses design, Yobori plow, Gold Ioe
  • Tsuba : Solid plain Shakudo polish surface, unsigned
  • Kozuka : Arrows in a quiver design, Shakudo ground, Surge surface, Takabori Iroe, Back side ground Fukumi-kin gold plated, signed as Etsujo-saku, Kouro(seal)
  • Hilt : Black lacquered layskin, Gold silk cord Tsumami-maki style lozenge wrap
  • Scabbard : Silver cording bound around, vermillion lacquered
Gold foiled double layers Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-saya plain wood mounting
An old good polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)