AN IMPRESSIVE GOLD FOIL AND GOLD LACQUER ITO MAKI TACHI GOSHIRAE
Edo period (18th century)
The saya constructed of wood and covered in bright gold foil (kin noshi tsuki) and decorated with dense scrolling vines and ten hollyhock crests of the Tokugawa family in raised gold lacquer, the saya jiri, seme gane and ashi kanamono solid gold, decorated with Tokugawa family crests carved in relief against an etched background, the top of the saya wrapped with a gold and white brocade with scrolling vines and tied with silk cords, the doe skin obi tori mounted with circular gold Tokugawa family crest medallions, the saya guchi lacquered fundame; the tsuka wrapped in gold and white brocade matching the saya and fitted with solid gold fuchi and tachi gashira and menuki, carved to match the saya hardware; three-plate mokko tachi tsuba carved with eight Tokugawa family crests and highlighted by pierce-carved inoshishime; tsunagi inscribed Rai Kunimitsu, Tokugawa ke gorai, with the length of the blade, signed Hon’ami Koson, with kao and dated 1932.11.

With wood storage box inscribed on the lid Rai Kunimitsu tachi, Tokugawa ke gorai and signed on the underside Hon’ami Koson and with kao and dated 1932.11.

With an origami describing the sword and koshirae from a sale of Tokugawa family property dated 1933.5.
FOOTNOTES
Provenance: Tokugawa family
Arima Tadayori, Hizen, by repute

According to documents accompanying this koshirae most probably written at the time of the 1932 sale, this sword was presented to Arima Tadayori (1603-1655) from Tokugawa Iemitsu (1604-1651), the third Tokugawa shogun, in appreciation for his success against those who fought against anti-Christianity laws during the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-1638).