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Antique Japanese Wakizashi - Koshirae Gold Kiri Mon Motif

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,850.00 USD
Antique Japanese Wakizashi - Koshirae Gold Kiri Mon Motif
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Antique Japanese Wakizashi - Koshirae Gold Kiri Mon Motif, circa mid-19th Century to late 20th Century. Beautiful lacquered koshirae for a wakizashi (no blade) with fittings of a similar matching motif of gold kiri mons on dark shakudo nanako. Mounts are a mixture of old antique fittings and newer wood and lacquer work, that makes for a knock-out package. The fuchi and kashira are of a very thin design, popular in the early Edo period, with very fine nanako and small gold kiri mons. The menuki feature gold leaves and shakudo flowers and vines. The same' under the handle wrapping appears to have been lacquered in gold and then the highpoints of the nodules exposed for contrast. The silk handle wrap is gold colored. The seppas are gold foil covered copper. The mokko-shaped tsuba is of a similar matching theme, made of shakudo, with a nanako field, and with small and large gold kiri mons. There are kozuka and kogai hitsuanas on either side of the nakago ana, the kogai ana filled with a shakudo plug with engraved lines. The tsuba measures 55mm wide x 62mm tall, with numerous punch marks around the edge of the nakago ana, this is usually a mark of the maker. Fittings are unsigned. There is a wooden tsunagi replica of a hira-zukuri wakizashi blade with a thick wooden habaki to keep the mounts together. The saya is ribbed at the upper portion and smooth below, with a rounded end. It is covered in black lacquer with the lower portion decorated in gold Maki-e lacquer designs of swirling vines, leaves, and flower blossoms. The wood mounts, black lacquer, and gold Maki-e lacquer work are of modern origin. The kurikata is of a similar matching theme, made of shakudo with a nanako field and gold kiri mons. There is black and copper-colored sageo cord attached thru the kurikata. The koshirae comes in a custom-fitted wood storage box with ties and pillow, fact sheet from a Japanese sword dealer dated 2015, and an older silk brocade storage bag with cord in the bottom of the box. Also included is another antique tsuba of similar design, being more rounded or oval in shape, made of shakudo, with a nanako field, and small and large kiri mons. It has kozuka and kogai hitsuanas and similar punch marks around the nakago ana, measures 50mm wide x 59mm tall, and is unsigned.  Condition is excellent, the lacquer with no damage, some very minor soiling, and one tiny square gold flake missing on one of the leaves. There is light verdigris on the kurikata where the sageo cord rests on it. And, scattered light verdigris on the tsuba, fuchi, and kashira, mainly around the kiri mon designs in the recesses. The silk handle wrapping is tight and shows little wear and no soiling. The menuki show some age and oxidation in the protected areas.  Overall a stunning piece that displays excellently. Est.: $3,500-$4,500.