T252445(S2099)
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Katana signed Hizen-koku-ju Ise-daijo Fujiwara YOSHIHIRO with) Black Waist coded Beaten Gold Bworn lacquered Taneshino-stripe Koshirae

Early Edo period (circa Kanbun - Jyoukyo/1661-87） Hizen
Length of cutting edge 61.7cm Curvature 1.5cm Width of base 31.6mm Width of Yokote 22.5mm Thickness of base 7.0mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsdu Hozon) certificate

with) Black Waist coded Beaten Gold Bworn lacquered Taneshino-stripe Koshirae

Blade construction: Dairy moderate sized Katana of Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba is wide and Kasane is thick. The blade has well-harmonized degree of tapering from base to point with a bit on stronger side swelling along cutting edge, leading to an elongated large point of Kissaki. It is assumed that this shape is created in an archaic style bearing Tachi rather than for cuts. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is fine Ko-Mokume. Fine steel covers with thick Nie sparkling hard metal granules Ji-nie on Hira-ji surface. Darkish thick Mokume-burl pattern of Nie so called Chikei activity wells out from steel.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is strong, deep Nie hard metal granules base, wide Suguha in general to show slight undulating pattern of Notare, box-like mixing with small Gunome.
The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area deeply with Ashi and floating YOU activities and thick lines of Nie-Sunagashi areas. Deep sparkling Nie accumulates along boundary line where gives off extremely vivid and bright impression.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi forms straight Suguha and medium circle turns back deeply.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original. One peg hole. Horizontal KIRI filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is flat with KIRI filemarks that ends V-shaped kengyo heel. The signature in front is twelve character that starts from the place of work Hizen-koku-ju 肥前国住, the official district title of Ise-daijo 伊勢大掾 in unique twisting character, name of clan Fujiwara 藤原 and the smith name YOSHIHIRO 吉広.

Here is a fascinating brilliant Katana by the famed sword artisan 2nd gen. YOSHIHIORO 吉広 in Nabeshima clan, Hizen domain (now Saga pref.).
Nabeshima clan measured the development of fine art expert sword craftsman in superior made, the most harmonized shape and the finest steel with dazzling temper Hamon that can compare with major city of capital Yamashiro, developing town Osaka and general metropolitan Bushu Edo. There came from large numbers of orders either from the successive Shogunates or high class Samurai from the castle towns.

The YOSHIHIRO 吉広 1st generation, real name Kichizaemon 吉左衛門 with the title of Isedaijo 伊勢大掾 belonged to the head of the Hizen TADAYOSHI 忠吉 school. It is well-known that he played ghost-makers for the head Musashi-daijo TADAHIRO 武蔵大掾忠廣 or later helped the 2nd generation TADAHIRO 近江大掾藤原忠廣 very capably.

The subject sword maker 2nd gen. TADAHIRO 忠廣 also enjoyed the title of Ise-daijo 伊勢大掾 during Kanbun era (1661-72).His stroke style of Ise 伊勢 is peculiarly amusing like this example.

The subject katana shows a notable feature of moderate sized Han-Tachi for the stylish use rather than swordsmanship in peaceful age - solid in hands, well harmonized deep curvature leading with an elongated large kissaki. Extremely fine forging mark so called Nashiji shows like flecked effect of pear with most supreme sparkling Ji-nie glitter that generates superior Chikei activity. Hamon is lapping waves of Notare with some indication of oblong Gunome and small Gunome outline with rich activities of Nie pilling up on boundary line.

with)Black Waist coded Beaten Gold Brown lacquered Taneshino-stripe Koshirae (click HERE for entire Koshirae/HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira, Seme-kanamono, Ishizuki, Shakudo Ishime-ji surface, Unsigned
  • Menuki : Nihiki-Shishi (a pair of Leo) design, Shakudo Yobori, Iroe
  • Tsuba : Snow crystal design, Yamagane copper ground, Polished surface, Shakudo Fukurin rim, Unsigned
  • Tsuka : White Rayskin, Brown silk cord lozenge wrap
Gold foiled Tachi style Habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
Good old polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data :
KATAOKA Ginsaku, Hizen-to Shiko, 1974
YOKOYAMA manabu, Hizento Bibouroku, 2006
HONMA Kunzan/ISHII Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975