Sugata Hira-Zukuri Iori-mune with shallow saki-zori
Nagasa:. 26.5cm
Motohaba: 2.8cm Kasane: 6mm
Hada: Ko-itame but detail obscured by light abrasion. There is a fukure approx 2cm from the hamachi.
Hamon: Suguha in nioi but detail unclear
Kissaki: details of boshi unclear
Nakago: Ubu, one mekugi ana, kiri Yasurimei. The nakago has been cleaned
Koshirae: cream silk thread bound same tsuka over an attractive copper Mokkogata ishime tsuba, copper fuchi kashira with stag and gold and silver moon in relief (kashira loose). Menuki of horses in shakudo and gold. Ribbed riori saya.
Provenance: purchased in a local antique shop 1956.
Lots 992 - 1009 comprise a collection of Japanese edged weapons assembled by the late Mr MacCormick between 1953 and 1963, with one final addition added in 1998. They were all purchased within the UK at local auctions, antique shops or privately. They have never been submitted for shinsa. Within the Collection there is a Daisho (large and small swords) and a good Gendaito from the Showa period.
All of the works are in largely untouched condition and a professional polish would undoubtedly reveal more detail of hada, hamon and boshi. Equally the koshirae include a number of interesting tsuba and small fittings which are worthy of further study and preservation.
Mellors & Kirk gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Paul Bowman in the cataloguing of this collection
