AS26114 Katana: Mumei (Attributed to Ayanokōji) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering Number: AS26114

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Attributed to Ayanokōji)
無銘(伝 綾小路)

Sayagaki: Yamashiro no Kuni Ayanokōji Sadatoshi. Ō-suriage mumei. Made around the Bun’ei era (1264–1275). Blade length: 2 shaku 3 sun 5 bu. Written by Hon’ami Nisshū in the ninth month of Showa 57 (1982).

Sadatoshi: Koto: Saijō Saku: Yamashiro
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku).
This blade is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among works attributed to Ayanokōji.
Habaki: Single gold-foiled habaki.
Blade Length: 71.1 cm (27.99 in).
Curvature: 2.2 cm (0.87 in).
Mekugi Hole: 1.
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.10 cm (1.22 in).
Width at Yokote: 2.30 cm (0.91 in).
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.30 cm (0.12 in).
Sword Weight: 785 g.
Era: Mid-Kamakura period, around Bun’ei (1264).
Shape: A well-proportioned blade with a relatively wide mihaba, deep curvature, and an elongated kissaki. The boshi is slightly large.
Jigane: Itame hada mixed with mokume hada, with the grain clearly visible.
Hamon: Ko-nie-deki suguha mixed with nijūba. Fine ko-ashi are active within the hamon. The boshi shows a finely irregular pattern with considerable variation.

Features: The Ayanokōji school was a group of swordsmiths active during the mid-Kamakura period, founded by Sadatoshi, with later smiths such as Sadayoshi also belonging to the tradition. They are believed to have forged swords around the Hōji era (1247–1249). Sadatoshi resided on Ayanokōji Street in Kyoto’s Shijō district and was also known by the Buddhist name Ryōabe. Swordsmith reference books generally place his working period around the Bun’ei era (1264–1275). One tradition also states that Sadatoshi lived near Rai Kuniyuki, and that the two occasionally produced blades on each other’s behalf.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Round iron tsuba.
Menuki: Long-tailed rooster motif.
Fuchikashira: Carved with waterfowl and plant motifs.
Kojiri: Iron.
Saya (Scabbard): Blue mother-of-pearl sprinkled lacquer saya.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token.
AoiArt estimation paper: Whole Oshigata.

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