Wakizashi with rare Skull Horimono blade Hosokawa Samurai family Koshirae
Tanto depicted a Christian (Kirishitan 吉利支丹) symbolism

A very rare and fine forged

Zugaikotsu 頭蓋骨

Hosokawa Samurai family fine now restored Koshirae

Blade:

Hamon:

An intricate type of combined Choji/Midare with a delicate scale of tones in a complex rare work that denotes the quality of the tempering.

Hada (surface grain):

It is shown as Masada and Mokume combined

Horimono:

Zugaikotsu 頭蓋骨 (Skull) . Handwork traditional carved style

Polished:

Recent made by a Togishi master

Blade measures:

Measures:
Nagasa: 36,1 cm.
Sori: 0.7 cm.
Moto-haba: 3,2 cm.
Saki-haba: 2,1 cm.
Moto-gasane: 0.8 cm.
Saki-gasane: 0.6 cm.

Total length (Nakago included): 46,8 cm.

Cutting edge; 35,9 cm.

Koshirae:

Koshirae condition: Excellent. Newly a restored work by a Koshiraeshi master

Tsuka:

Wood: Honoki

Fuchi/Kashira: Leaves and Hosokawa Kamon (Hosokawa Japanese Christianity Samurai family heritage unusual variant)

Menuki couple: Skull

Same: Ray Skin

Ito: Gold and Black Natural Silk

Tsuba:

Forged iron traditional opon work Edo period

Maru-Gata shape. Rays and radial design

Habaki:

Completely restored and covered with a new pure Gold plated

Saya:

Wood: Honoki

Lacquer technique: Urushi lacquered Gold and Ishime

Koiguchi/Kurikata and Kojiri: Black buffalo horn

Sageo: Silk

Koshirae length: 52,6 cm.

About the Tsuba and the rare Christian symbolism of this Wakizashi:

This type of Tsuba is usually related to the hidden Christians (Kakure Kirishitan) at the time of the persecutions in Japan by having cross-shaped radial alternated with the rays of divine power, in any case it would be also Buddhist symbol a syncretism.

The same could be said of the skull that could have a Christian symbol ("memento mori") or equally Buddhist.
This piece is shown with strong religious symbolism.

Hosokawa Kamon (on the Fuchi Koshirae): Hosokawa Japanese Christianity Samurai family heritage

Ref.: Wakizashi 98

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Nihonto: Katana - Wakizashi - Tanto

Kodogu: Tsuba - Menuki - Fuchi - Kashira - Kozuka

Kakemono or Kakejiku: Japanese art

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