A WAKIZASHI IN KOSHIRAE, THE BLADE ATTRIBUTED TO SAN'AMI KANETAKA, WITH NBTHK CERTIFICATE By San'ami Kanetaka, unsigned Japan, 17th century, early Edo period (1615-1868) The blade: The gently curved blade with shinogi-zukuri and iori mune. The hamon is gunome-midare in nioi-deki with ashi and yo, the hada is a very dense ko-itame. The nakago (tang) with two mekugi-ana and mumei, the tip is iriyamagata jiri. The mounting: The signed iron tsuba of tate-maru-gata form with two hitsu and finely incised with floral decorations partly in relief, one flower with openwork. The fuchi and kashira are inlaid in gold, silver, and shakudo with blossoming flowers, while the shakudo menuki depict horses. The copper kozuka decorated in relief with a dragon and animals. The lacquered saya with a dense reddish scattering pattern on the roironuri. With an NBTHK Kicho Token (Precious Swords) white paper certificate issued by Hosokawa Moritatsu (1883-1970), president of the NBTHK, on 19 October 1968, attributing the blade to San'ami Kanetaka, in the original envelope. LENGTH 45.2 cm (the blade) and 63 cm (the koshirae) Condition: The blade is in fair condition with minor surface wear as well as two small chips near the center of the kissaki, a very small loss to the tip of the kissaki as well. The mounts are in very good condition with minor wear and small losses to the lacquer, particularly near the hilt. Provenance: Hungarian private collection. Auction comparison: Compare a related wakizashi, signed Kanetaka and dated to the 17th century, at Christie's, Japanese and Korean Art, 23 March 2004, New York, lot 232 (sold for 10,158 USD).