AS25644 Katana: Mumei(Den Motoshige)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Den Motoshige 元重)
Gold Inlaid inscription: Seiko 青湖

Sayagaki: (authenticity is unknown)
Bizen-Koku Motoshige – Gō (sword name): Seiko 青湖
Provenance: Kaga Maeda Family
O-suriage Mumei with inlaid inscription
Era: Around Kenmu (1334–1338)
Length: 1 shaku 9 sun 8 bu (approx. 60.0 cm)
Written in the last month of the year Kōshi (Showa 60, 1985)
Hon’ami Nisshū

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among unsigned works attributed to Motoshige.

Habaki: Gold-plated single-piece with plum blossom motif family crest.
Blade Length: 60.2 cm (23.70 in)
Curvature: 2.0 cm (0.79 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.25 cm (1.28 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.54 cm (1.00 in)
Thickness of Rim (Kasane): 0.69 cm (0.27 in)
Sword Weight: 665 g

Era: Late Kamakura period to Nanbokucho (late 13th to early 14th century)

Shape: wide and O-suriage(shortened) blade with small curvature and big kissaki.
Jigane: fine Koitame hada with fine Jinie looks plain and clear with Utsuri.
Hamon:Nie-based, ko-gunome with faint Kinsuji and Sunagashi.

Features:
Osafune Motoshige was a Bizen swordsmith active from the late Kamakura period through the Nanbokuchō period. In the past, it was believed that there were two separate smiths—an “Old Motoshige” and a Motoshige as a pupils of Sadamune—but there is also a view that they were in fact the same individual.

According to the sayagaki, the sword is recorded as having been handed down through the Kaga clan, Maeda family. The gold inlay inscription states “Seiko(青湖, which means blue lake),” but further details are unknown.
While the authenticity of the stated provenance can no longer be confirmed today, the registration certificate issued in 1962 states “Den Miike,” suggesting that the sword may once have been believed to be a Miike work.

In any case, the sword itself is of very fine quality, and the jigane is especially clear and exceptionally beautiful.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigata

Please note: The price does not include the international shipping fees.