Sueyuki (Den Bungo) — Tachi
Den Bungo (Kyūshū classical school)
Smith: Sueyuki (末行)
Mumei (suriage); old two-character signature remaining near the tang tip
Kotō — Late Kamakura period, Karyaku 1326
Measurements
Nagasa
68.18 cm (26.84 in)
Sori
2.42 cm (0.95 in)
Motohaba
2.58 cm (1.02 in)
Sakihaba
1.63 cm (0.64 in)
Kasane
0.45 cm (0.18 in)
Blade Characteristics
Hamon
Suguha (straight temper line) with a moist, fine nioiguchi characteristic of old Kyūshū classical work
Hada
Ko-itame mixed with masame and mokume; utsuri appears
Nakago Notes
Shortened (suriage) with old simple two-character signature remaining near tip; sayagaki by Tanzan (Kao)
Mountings & Fittings
Koshirae Notes
Tachi in shirasaya accompanied by koshirae — almost-square iron tsuba with gold and silver patterns; silver-base fuchikashira carved with dragon and waves inlaid in gold and silver; black lacquered saya with silver kojiri
Tosōgu Notes
Shakudo dragon menuki
Papers & Documentation
Appraisal Status
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
NBTHK / NTHK Notes
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token; ranked Jōjō Saku. Sayagaki by Tanzan records the blade length of 2 shaku 2 sun 5 bu and a Kinoto-mi (September) date. Aoi Art estimation paper with whole oshigata.
Provenance
Listed by Aoi Art (aoijapan.com), Ordering No. 26249
About This Object
A Kotō tachi attributed to the Bungo tradition of late Kamakura-period Kyūshū. The slender form with high curvature and small kissaki, tempered in a fine suguha, exemplifies the quiet elegance of the old classical provincial schools. The blade dates to 1326, the year of the Karyaku Disturbance.