TOMOHIRA: A SUNOBI TANTO IN SHIRASAYA, CERTIFIED

TOMOHIRA: A SUNOBI TANTO IN SHIRASAYA WITH KOSHIRAE AND NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON CERTIFICATE
By Tomohira, signed Tomohira
Japan, Muromachi period (1336-1573)

The blade:
Hira-zukuri and iori mune, with a long kaeri, good niku, the hamon is suguha in nioi-deki, the hada is itame, o-itame. The nakago is ubu with two mekugi-ana (one plugged), the tip is kuri jiri, the mei (signature) reads 濃州住具衡 Noshu ju Tomohira [Tomohira, resident of Mino Province].
The mounting:
The silver habaki with horizontal file marks. The tsuka is covered in rayskin and applied with two circular silver fittings showing two different mons. The gilt copper-inlaid iron kozuka and two-part kogai with shaped reserves enclosing auspicious symbols against a diapered ground. The lacquered saya with a dense reddish scattering pattern on the roiro ground.

NAGASA 28.3 cm, LENGTH 46 cm (the shirasaya) and 53 cm (the koshirae)

Condition: The blade is in very good condition with minor wear and few microscopic blisters. The mounts are in good condition with some wear and minor nicks to the saya.
Provenance: Hungarian private collection.

With a NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate:
Issue date: 5th of October, Heisei 11 (1999).
Tokubetsu Hozon registration no: 11199909.
NBTHK certificate issue no: 354882.