Description: THE KOSHIRAE The entire mounting is perfectly congruous in all its parts and in original condition. All decorative elements crafted from shakudo and glittering gold, dragons are the main motif. The saya (sheath) is red-yellow lacquer with fine gold nashiji. The metal sayajiri (scabbard tip) with a finely marked nanakoji plate and a gilded pair of dragons. The kurigata is quite elegant as well. A mokko-gata tsuba, with an openworked hitsu and dense nanakoji. Showing the kirimon, the Paulownia Seals. The tanto’s handle is made from metal, only the fuchi can be removed. Gilded dragons over nanakoji; the kashira is made in the style of courtly swords. Dense, geometric decorations containing manji symbols. THE BLADE The type of blade is shinogi-zukuri, with iori-mune; fine mokumehada; the hamon is a balanced, high notare to gunome. The tang is an ubu with two mekugi-ana, the yasurime is kiri, with a rounded tang tip kurijiri. The mei (signature) is found on both sides, on one side with date 元 亀 四 年 二 月 日 (‘Genki 4th Year, 2nd Month, on a day’). Genki was the last era of the Muromachi period (1394-1573). The other side shows Bizen kuni ju Osafune KIYO-MITSU 備 前 國 住 長 船 清 光. The Kiyomitsu from Bizen were a family that included over a dozen sword masters of this name. The kozuka is also signed and was made by a well-known master from around the second half of the 17th century. The inscription on the blade reads Kobayashi Ise Kami KUNI-TERU 小 林 伊 勢 守 國 輝. Handle with nanakoji and dragons, one back and the other gilded. With black-brown teak stand. Condition: Excellent condition, extraordinarily well preserved Provenance: From a German private collection