Results courtesy of Keichodo...
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Highlights and exceptional prices
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A tachi
Signed Zen Hakushu Nobutaka nyudo (Nobutaka nyudo, formerly of Hoki Province)
Edo period, dated Kanbun jusannen (1673)
Sold: £69,300
Formerly in the collection of Quincy Adams Shaw (1826-1908). Sold for over double its high estimate of £30,000.
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 28: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the- samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-tachi-signed-zen- hakushu-nobutaka-nyudo-edo
An Etchu tachi
Attributed to Norishige
Late Kamakura - early Nanbokucho period, 14th century
Sold: £60,480
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preserving], no. 100892 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 60 (1985).
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 36: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/the- samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-tachi-signed-zen- hakushu-nobutaka-nyudo-edo
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A katana
Signed Tenmangu ni oite rokujunichi kyoku seishin kitae Yukihira kore o tsukru (made by Yukihira and forged to the utmost purity for sixty days in Tenmangu) Edo period, dated Genroku go mizunoe-saru nigatsu saijobi (an auspicious day in February 1692) Sold: £126,000
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 48: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/th e-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a-katana- signed-tenmangu-ni-oite-rokujunichi-kyoku
A magnificent daisho koshirae
The daisho fuchi signed Kimura Kyuichiro shitaji, Yokoya Nobusada horu (the foundation work by Kimura Kyuichiro, engraved by Yokoya Nobusada)
The kozuka and kogai of the sho signed Goto Mitsunobu and with kao Edo period, 18th century
Sold: £302,400
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 48: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/th e-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- magnificent-daisho-koshirae-the-daisho-fuchi
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A katana
Attributed to the Iwato Ichimonji School
Kamakura period, late 14th century Sold: £50,400
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 87: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2022/the- samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-katana-attributed- to-the-iwato-ichimonji-school
An impressive tanto with fine koshirae [mount]
Signed Bi[shu] Osafune Morishige The blade Muromachi period, dated Shocho ninen nigatsu hi (a day of the 2nd month 1429)
The koshirae [scabbard and mounts] Edo period, early 19th century
Sold: £33,020
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 65: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-gassan- katana-signed-naniwa-ju-gassan-unryushi
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A Gassan katana
Signed Naniwa ju Gassan Unryushi Sadakazu kore o seitan [forged by Gassan Unryushi Sadakazu, a resident of Osaka] and impressed mark Sada
Meiji period, dated Meiji nijuninen hachigatsu kichijitsu (an auspicious day in the 8th month, 1889)
Sold: £33,020
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 65: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023 /the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-gassan- katana-signed-naniwa-ju-gassan-unryushi
A Ko-Ichimonji tachi Kamakura period, 13th century
Sold: £50,800
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Token [Important Sword], no. 71995041 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 7 (1995).
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2023, Lot 69: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2023 /the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-ko- ichimonji-tachi-kamakura-period-13th-century
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A Bizen wakizashi
Signed Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (Yasumitsu, Osafune in Bizen Province)
Muromachi period, dated Eikyo yonen hachigatsu hi (a day in the fourth year, 8th month of the Eikyo era [equivalent to 1425])
Sold: £44,450
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 41: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-bizen- wakizashi-signed-bishu-osafune-yasumitsu
A katana
Signed Moritaka saku (made by Moritaka)
Muromachi period, late 15th century Sold: £57,150
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 43: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2024/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-katana- signed-moritaka-saku-made-by-moritaka
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A momonari kabuto [peach shaped helmet]
Edo period, 17th century Sold: £50,400
The peach-shaped helmet was popular in the Momoyama period because swords and arrows were easily deflected off its smooth surfaces. The shape was influenced by Spanish-style morions with their smooth solid plates forming each side with a central crest running down the middle. This example sold for more than double its low estimate of £20,000.
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 11: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/th e-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-momonari- kabuto-peach-shaped-helmet-edo-period
A hoshi-bachi [helmet with raised rivets]
Edo period, 17th century
Sold: £52,920
The sixty-two plate russet iron helmet bowl accompanied by a certificate of registration
as Tokubetsu Kicho Shiryo [Especially Important Object], no. 1631 issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Heisei 28 (2016). The helmet performed exceptionally well against its low estimate of £4,000.
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 13: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/202 1/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a- hoshi-bachi-helmet-with-raised-rivets-edo-period
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A rare and impressive nanban kabuto [European style helmet] and mempo [face mask] Momoyama - Edo period, late 16th - early 17th century
Sold: £94,500
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 10 May 2022, Lot 36: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/202 2/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-rare- and-impressive-nanban-kabuto-european-style
A rare and impressive kawari kabuto [eccentrically shaped helmet]
Edo period, 17th century Sold: £44,450
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 3: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/202 4/the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-rare- and-impressive-kawari-kabuto-eccentrically
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A nimai-do gusoku [armour]
The helmet signed Saotome Moriie Edo period, late 17th century
Sold: £314,000
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 20: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-nimai-do- gusoku-armour-the-kabuto-signed-saotome
A yokohagi okegawa-do gusoku [armour]
Edo period, mid-18th century Sold: £315,000
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 21: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a-yokohagi- okegawa-do-gusoku-armour-edo-period-mid
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A honkozane nimai-do gusoku [armour]
The kabuto signed Joshu ju Saotome Ieharu (Saotome Ieharu, a resident of Hitachi Province)
Edo period, late 17th century Sold: £378,000
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 11 May 2021, Lot 23: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour/a- honkozane-nimai-do-gusoku-armour-the-kabuto
An iroiro-odoshi nimai-do gusoku [armour with variegated lacing] The helmet signed by Myochin Nobuie (circa 1504-54)
Edo period, 16th century Sold: £239,400
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Showa 56 (1981). The lot almost tripled its low estimate of £120,000.
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 25: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/ the-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- honkozane-munatori-do-maru-gusoku-armour-edo
Sotheby’s, London Japanese Works of Art
A honkozane munatori do-maru gusoku [armour]
The mempo signed moto Munesuke shinzu Myochin Munetaka (Myochin Munetaka, based on a design by Munesuke) Edo period, 18th century
Sold: £352,800
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Japanese Armour Preservation Society], dated Showa 56 (1981). The lot almost tripled its low estimate of £120,000.
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 2 November 2021, Lot 25: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- honkozane-munatori-do-maru-gusoku-armour-edo
A fine okegawa shichimai-do gusoku [armour]
The helmet signed Joshu ju Saotome Ietada (Saotome Ietada, a resident of Hitachi Province)
Edo period, 18th century Sold: £114,300
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Juyo Bunka Shiryo [Important Cultural Material], issued by the Nihon Katchu Bugu Kenkyu Hozon Kai [Society for the Preservation of Japanese Armour], dated Showa 57 (1982). Sold for £114,300 against a low of £50,000.
Sotheby’s, London, The Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armour, 16 May 2024, Lot 16: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/t he-samurai-Japanese-arms-and-armour-2/a- honkozane-munatori-do-maru-gusoku-armour-edo
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