A Bosshu katana with tachi mounts
By Nio Kiyosada, Muromachi period (16th century)
Honzukuri, iorimune, chogissaki, toriizori forged in a koitame hada with a notare tempered edge and a hakikake boshi, the tang ubu, with kiri file marks and two holes, signed Nio Kyosada, one-piece, silvered copper habaki, 24 1/2in (62.2cm), in a shirasaya

With 19th-century tachi mounts comprising black-lacquer saya decorated with scattered cherry blossoms in gold lacquer, the hardware silver and shibuichi carved with paulownia crests, the shakudo and gold menuki formed as phoenix

With kantei certificate no. 2471 issued by the Nihon Token Hozon Kai (Japan Sword Preservation Society), dated 1971.10.3.