A Mihara-school tanto in mounts
Edo period (1615-1868), 19th century
Hirazukuri, iorimune and forged in itame hada mixed with mokume hada, the tempered edge suguha turning to notare toward the tip, the boshi ko-maru with a long return, the ubu tang with kiri file marks and two holes, fitted with a one-piece gilt-copper habaki, 11 5/16in (28.7cm) long
The aikuchi goshirae comprising a red-lacquer ishime-ji saya decorated with stylized cloud patterns in black lacquer and fitted with a Yokoya-school shibuichi ishime-ji kozuka decorated with a scholar and attendant in shishiai-bori and gold hirazogan, the fittings all shibuichi ishime-ji including a kojiri decorated with a branch of fruiting persimmon in takabori and copper takazogan, a kurikata and an elaborate koiguchi carved with the curly mane of a shishi and formal “stand” decorated with an heraldic crest of three branches of fruiting mandarin in gold takazogan in a sunken reserve, signed below Tsuchida Yoshichika, the tsuka wrapped in undecorated same and mounted with gold menuki carved as snarling tigers, a fuchi carved as the face of a shishi in bold relief with eyes in gold takazogan and a kashira with clouds bordering a fruiting branch of persimmon matching that of the kojiri
With Hozon token (Sword worthy of preservation) certificate no. 373486 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated April 3, 2006
With Hozon tosogu (Sword fitting worthy of preservation) certificate no. 449687 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated February 16, 2006