An important katana signed Masatsugu wtih Handachi

dating: Period (1603-1867) provenance: Japan, Beautiful blade (nagasa 78 cm) with sugata shinogi zukuri iori mune. Hada itame mokume. Hamon guone midare, nioi guchi, nie, ko-tobiyaki, ashi. Kissaki: chu kissaki. Boshi midare comi, ko maru, kaeri yoru. Nakago ubu machi okuri ha-agari kurijiri. Yasurime kesho yasuri sujikai. Mei: SUISHINSHI MASATSUGU KAO ANSEI NI NEN HACHI GATSU KITSU JUTSU. Den: Suishinshi Masahide. Period Shinshinto ansei (year 1855). In elegant koshirae handachi of high quality. Habaki in gilded metal. Tsuba shaped as mokko with both closed riobitsu in gold, the surface finely chiselled with rinceaux and with effigies of various animals such as flying ducks and rabbits. Same of the tsuka covered with fabric blue and gold damask. All the mounts in shakudo nanako carved with zogan, golden rinceaux and shibuichi. Fine saya in gilded lacquer, with dragon in bass relief and mounts en suite with the sword. Omodaka mon present on saya and menuki. Koshirae complete with tsunagi. The blade preserved in shirasaya. length 106 cm.