Skip to main content

Sword: HEL/ARM.273-1946

Object information

Awaiting location update

Maker(s)

Maker: YOSHITSUNE BIZEN (Previous attribution to this m)
Maker: MASATSUNE

Entities

Categories

Description

Sugata: [configuration]: shinogi zukuri, deep koshizori curve, small point
Kitae: [forging pattern]: not distinct due to rubbing, but the clean portion under the habaki looks like ko-itame with utsuri
Hamon [tempering pattern]: large gunome choji
Boshi [tip]: not visible
Horimono [carving]: none
Nakago [tang]: ubu, file marks indistinct, spurious group of three holes above the original hole, kurijiri tip
Habaki [collar]:
Nagasa [length of blade]: blade 49.3cm, tang 11.3cm, curvature 1.4cm Koshirae [mounting]: Daisho mounting, the scabbards of polished samé-gawa with black lacquer, the kozuka pocket has a band of shibuich with pine-covered mountains and approaching banner, on the wakizashi a kogai of shakudo nanako, possibly lacquered, with two riders speeding towards a raging river (Ujigawa story) in fine high releif inlay with shakudo, copper, silver, and gold, fuchi-kashira of similar design, the matching kozuka with the same two riders having arrived at the river, one having plunged in, signed on the back Goto Toshitaka (VIIIth generation), simlar but unsigned kozuka on the katana mounting, fuchi-kashira of the same motif with riders in high relief inlay of shakudo, copper, gold and silver, menuki similar on the wakizashi, and on the katana a rider, and a fugitive lady in a boat. The fuchi on the katana mounting inscribed OMORI EISHU. Round iron tsubas pierced and roundly carved with armoured figures in combat by the Ujigawa bridge with gold inlay signed BUSHU HIKONE JU MOGARASHI SOTEN, height 8.1, width 7.8cm. Overall length of wakizashi mounting 74cm, of the katana mounting 100.5cm

Dating

Kamakura period (1185-1392)
13th Century
1200 CE - 1299 CE

Note

Zashi signed Masatsune. Labelled 'Blade Yoshitsune Bizen'. The wakizashi is signed Masatsune on the tachi side, and appears to be of the shape and size of the kodachi ( small tachi) of the Kamakura period (1185-1333).( the old label saying Yoshitsune is mistaken)

School or Style

Bizen

Components of the work

Tsuba Height 8.1 cm Width 7.8 cm
Tang Length 11.3 cm
Blade Length 49.3 cm
Mounting Length 74 cm
Curvature Width 1.4 cm

Identification numbers

Accession number: HEL/ARM.273-1946
Primary reference Number: 163258
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 16 July 2020 Last processed: Wednesday 13 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Sword" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/163258 Accessed: 2024-11-19 20:57:36

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/163258 |title=Sword |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-19 20:57:36|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-163258

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...