A SATSUMA TANTO EDO PERIOD (17TH-18TH CENTURY)

A SATSUMA TANTO
EDO PERIOD (17TH-18TH CENTURY)
Configuration [sugata]: hira-zukuri with iori-mune; fukura-kareru, no curvature
Forging pattern [jihada]: itame
Tempering pattern [hamon]: hoso-suguba
Point [boshi]: rounded (ko-maru)
Tang [nakago]: shape (keitai): slender and tapering, shortened (suriage); file marks (yasurime): straight (kiriyasuri); end (nakagojiri): straight (kiri); holes (mekugi-ana): three
length from tip to beginning of tang [nagasa]: 30 cm
Carving [horimono]: bonji character
Collar [habaki]: double gold
Scabbard [koshirae]: a black lacquered aikuchi koshirae (set of mounts with flush fitting between scabbard and hilt) with gold menuki of three over lapping dakibotan (peony surrounded by leaves) crests, kurikata, kaerizuno (cord fittings), shakudo kozuka (knife) and orange silk sword bag also designed with dakibotan crests, 41.5 cm long
The outer wood storage box inscribed Tokugawa jusandai shogunke midaidokoro Tenshoin mamorigatana (Sword belongs Tensho-in, the wife of the thirteenth Tokugawa Shogun), inner lacquer storage box decorated with dakibotan crests

Provenance
Tensho-in (Princess Atsuhime; 1836-1883) by repute