Extremely rare high museum grade Katana

Long Katana Fujiwara Takeda Bungo School 17th Century early Edo period blade with four certificates of originality and other documentation.

The Bungo province in Kyushu produced such excellent sword-smiths as Yukihira in the Koto times.

The Bungo Takada school was founded by Tomoyuki in the Nanbokucho period. Tomoyuki is considered to have been a superior sword-smith. With the passage of time it is generally felt that the quality and style declined and by the Muromachi period all of the works were pretty much the same. Members of this school are also known as Fuijwara Takada because they used Fujiwara as a family name in their signatures.

There are different schools of thought on the quality of Bungo works made in the Shinto period. An immediate response from many “sword experts” when Bungo works are mentioned is that they are not swords of great quality. Others feel that they are good swords. Perhaps a foundation of this difference of opinion is that if you look at the structure of Bungo Takada swords, you will see that they were made to satisfy practical rather than artistic needs. Indeed, at times they were sought out because of their cutting ability and sturdiness.

It is said that the founder of Bungo Takada school was Tomomitsu or Tomoyuki.
Takada Swordsmiths in Shinto age engrave the last name “Fujiwara”, and so they are called also Fujiwara Takada.
The neighbor of the Takada school was Hizen school.

Hizen sword makers were controlled by Nabeshima daimyo and imported western steel.
Takada school made swords that cut well.

Early stage from late Muromachi to Kanbun era, Takada school swords were prized highly for cutting very well and for good sound jigane.

Katana blade:

This Katana blade is very beautiful and well made showing the true quality made by the Takada smiths. The sword is a tightly forged ko-itame which reminds one of the Hizen hada. There is much ji-nie with a brilliant moist misty quality to it. The hamon is a Soshu styled Notare Midare. A great quality blade.

It comes with copy of registration card and NBTHK Kichyo paper.

The blade is in good polish, no scratch or flaw on the cutting part, there is a few small ware above the shinogi line, but not bad or fatal at all. Please read the detailed next description of it:

Detailed blade condition: The polishing was done out very recently by a Tobishi (Japanese polisher) master, respecting the antiquity and tradition of the blade that now allows to see its original characteristics with the logical signs of the use and time of an very ancient sword. Some ancient rust spots in the pores and folds of the original forge in the Shinogi-ji and Mune only, not in active parts, not fatal damage frecuently as usual in truly antique Japanese swords polished respecting their age and original shape characteristics (see details in the pictures please). The polished as I said is recent, made by a master Tobishi, revealing the beautiful Hamon and the folds of forged steel (Hada). Temper line: shows as original shape in very good condition. Cutting edge line, perfect and very sharp.

Katana blade recently polished by a Tobishi (master in the Japanese technique of polishing blades) respecting its antiquity. Now lets see even the folds of the original forge as seen in the photos.

- Katana blade measures:

- Cutting edge line length: 69,4 cm.

-Nagasa (linear blade length without Nakago): 69 cm.

-Sori (blade curvature): 1,1 cm.

-Motohaba (initial section height of the blade or width at the Hamachi ): 2,9 cm.

-Sakihaba (section height in the initiation of Kissaki): 1,9 cm.

Kasane : 0,6 cm.

Katana blade papers documentary:
- NBTHK (The Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai or Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword) certified
- Copy of  Prefectural (Kyoiku-inkai) Registration Card  In order to legally own a sword in Japan it has to be registered in accordance with the Ju-to-ho 銃刀法

Koshirae:

- Koshirae total length: 100,2 cm.

Great quality Bukuro (Katana bag) modern Japanese brocade light green fabric silk with embroidery thread gold. Inner lining white natural cotton fabric. Fusa himo (tassel and cord) red colour also Japanese work. Both is included but the Katanakake (Katana stand) it is not included.

Saya:
Honoki wooden with tiny bits of pure gold and clear Urishi lacquered.
Kurikata and Kojiri: High quality turning and polish buffalo horn
Shitodome couple: Gold
Sageo: Genuine natural silk

Koshirae condition: Very good. Completely restored made by a master Koshiraeshi. It show its high quality. Koshiare components were before reassembling certified by the NTKK (see details below).

Tsuba:

Nanban Tsuba perhaps Kirishitan as described by the certificate.

A extremely quality brass double cross Tsuba

- Cross sukashi

- Nagasaki school

- Age: Edo period

Tsuba papers documentary: 
– Nihon-Tosogu-Kenkyu-Kai (NTKK) original official Japanese certified
-  testified sealed detailed translation

Tsuka:

Honoki wood

Same: Very good quality coarse-grained native ray skin
Tsukaito (Ito): Fine pure natural silk

Fuchi/Kashira:

Fuchi/Kashira: Fine hand craft brass, gold, silver and shakudo.

Shibuichi Autumn grasses - Ikkin

Made 2nd generation Funada Ikkin

Kashira: Depicted chrysanthemum and Fuchi depicted lilies (perhaps a Kakure Kirishitan symbol) under the Imperial Chrysanthemum symbol of the Fuchi.

Fuchi/Kashira papers documentary: 
– Nihon-Tosogu-Kenkyu-Kai (NTKK) original official Japanese certified
-  testified sealed detailed translation

Menuki:

Menuki couple: A very rare and great qaulity items.

Boat under the Moon

Edo-Kinko school

Age: Edo period

River landscape man in boat at the moon light (perhaps a symbol of reborn hidden in a scene typical of Japanese art)

A great fine art work

Menukis papers documentary: 
– Nihon-Tosogu-Kenkyu-Kai (NTKK) original official Japanese certified
-  testified sealed detailed translation

This Katana is part of my Japanese antique Kirishitan Samurais items collection

NBTHK Japan: https://www.touken.or.jp

Foreign NBTHK branch: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Japan.htm

Ref.: KATANA 32

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to emailed me please.

info@katanacenter.com

info@spainswords.es