The divided-courts war impoverished the court society that had sustained Kyōto’s most refined work. With the last Rai masters the classic line effectively closed, while Hasebe and Nobukuni carried the new Sōshū manner into the capital.
NihontoWatchNihontoWatchOrdering Number: A6293 (Consignment Sale)Katana: Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Signature: Mumei (Unsigned)(Echizen Rai 越前来)We classify swords into Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku based on the swordsmith's skill.For an unsigned Echizen Rai work, this piece is ranked as Jyojyo Saku.Habaki: gold and silver-plated double habakiBlade Length: 68.6cm (27.01in)Curvature: 1.2cm (0.47in)Mekugi-ana: 3Motohaba: 3.02cm (1.19in)Sakihaba: 2.22cm (0.87in)Kasane: 0.72cm (0.28in)Weight: 750gEra: around late Nanbokucho period, circa 1400.Shape: slightly wide blade with Mitsumune and slightly long kissaki. Two lines of Hi are carved on the blade.Jigane: Ko-itame mixed with Itame and moku covered with Ji-nie and prominent Chikei.Hamon: Ko-nie base thin Suguha with bright Nioikuchi mixed with Ko-ashi and faint Sunagashi.Features: The Chiyozuru school was a group of swordsmiths in Echizen Province that is said to have originated when Rai Kuniyasu moved there from Kyoto to Echizen. For this reason, the school is also known as Echizen Rai. The school was active from the Nanbokucho period through the early Muromachi period, and notable smiths include Kuniyasu and Morihiro. This blade displays the distinctive jigane characteristic of the Echizen Rai school, with finely woven chikei running throughout the jigane, creating a remarkably beautiful and refined surface.Koshirae:Tsuba: circular iron tsuba carved with autumn landscape.Fuchikashira: Sakudo base carved with a scene of a battle.Menuki: hollyhock family crest.NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon CertificateAoi-Art estimation paperwhole OshigataPlease note: the price does not include the shipping fees.Price:1,250,000JPYOrder FormRelated Items:Katana: Mumei(Unsigned)(Chiyozuru Morihiro)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Katana: Mumei(Unsigned)(judged as Enju)(the 26th NBTHK Juyo Token)Katana:Echizen Ju Harima Daijo Fujiwara Shigetaka (1st generation) / Iwami no Kami Fujiwara Nobuyori(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)Katan
Certificate reading — 無銘（越前来）
NihontoWatchOffered by Aoi Art
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Yamashiro-den · Echizen
5 pieces on the market now
| Smith | Era | Designated |
|---|---|---|
| Echizen越前 | 1336-1392 | 1 |
Yamashiro in the Nanbokuchō period
The divided-courts war impoverished the court society that had sustained Kyōto’s most refined work. With the last Rai masters the classic line effectively closed, while Hasebe and Nobukuni carried the new Sōshū manner into the capital.
A Hozon-certified blade judged to show notably superior workmanship and a better state of preservation. The bar is higher: re-tempered blades and most unsigned Muromachi/Edo works are excluded.
The NBTHK (Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) is a public-interest incorporated foundation founded in 1948 and supervised by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunkachō); it is based at the Japanese Sword Museum in Tokyo. Its expert panels physically examine each submitted work (shinsa) and issue a certificate (kanteishō) ranking it by artistic and historical merit. NBTHK papers are the most widely recognized standard of authentication for Japanese swords and fittings.
NBTHK official siteIf you wish to return an item, please notify us within 3 days of receipt. After this period we cannot accept cancellations. Please ship the return to us within 5 business days. Cancellation is conditional on the item being kept in the same condition as at the time of sale, so please handle it with care.