AS25045 Tachi::Dewa Kuni Junin Taikei Shoji Naotane Kaō(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Tachi in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature:Dewa Kuni Junin Taikei Shoji Naotane Kaō
Bunka 14 Nen Chūshun (Spring of 1817)
出羽國住人大慶庄司直胤　花押
文化十四年仲春　

Shinshinto: Saijyo Saku: Musashi
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku.)
This sword is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among Naotane’s works.
Habaki:Gold Foil Double Habaki
Blade Length: 80.2 cm (31.57 in)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.83 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.12 cm (1.23 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.87 cm (0.74 in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.81 cm (0.32 in)
Sword Weight: 775 g (1.71 lbs)
Era:Edo period, Bunka 14 (Spring of 1817)
Shape:A well-proportioned sword with sufficient width and thickness, featuring a bo-hi (groove) engraved on both sides.
Jigane:A fine ko-itame hada, well-forged and of excellent quality.
Hamon:A nie-deki gunome-midare pattern, with long kinsuji inside the blade. The boshi is midare-komi and sweeps back (hakikake).

Features:Naotane was born around Ansei 7 (1778) in Uzen-Yamagata. He was known as Shoji Minohyoe and became a student of Suishinshi Masahide. Later, he served under Lord Akimoto along with Masahide. Around Bunsei 4 (1821), he received the title of Chikuzen Daijo, and in Kaei 1 (1848), he was promoted to Mino-no-suke. His works are diverse, initially resembling his master’s large-wave midare (Ōtōran-midare) pattern during the early Bunka period. By the Tenpō era, he skillfully incorporated the Yamato-den, Sōshū-den, Mino-den, and Yamashiro-den straight tempering (suguha) styles. Naotane is regarded as one of the representative master smiths of the Shinshinto period.

Aoi Art’s Comment:　This sword features a bo-hi, which extends into the nakago. The presence of a kaō (signature mark) above the groove suggests that the groove was carved at the time of manufacture. This piece is a magnificent and imposing work with a long blade length of 80 cm (31.50 in).

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art Estimation Paper
Whole Oshigata