ubu & signed Ko-Bizen Masazane, ex. D. Hartley, @ Met Museum

[Gabriel L]

I took a stroll to the Metropolitan Museum today and was very happily surprised to see a wonderful ubu & signed ko-Bizen tachi by Masazane on display. I'd been to the Met many times before but I had never known they had any ko-Bizen work. I just got home and did some digging, and I quickly found a perfect match in this Bonham's auction page. I guess we know who bought it now. I think they made out like a bandit to pick up such a work at $47,500… even without a bōshi.

 

Anyone in the area, I highly recommend you take a look. It's a grand piece at 78.9cm with funbari, utsuri, and all sorts of hataraki with a jihada that practically explodes in rainbow-colored interference patterns. I didn't have my camera on me, so you'll have to forgive the one measly phone pic I snagged:

 

 

Of course all the usual reasons to go to the Met's A&A gallery apply, like their Rai Kunitoshi tantō, Hizen Tadahiro II katana in guri-bori fittings, Sōshū Fusamune wakizashi, Gassan Sadatoshi etc., an embarrassment of Gotō / Hirata / Ishiguro school fittings, Kanō Natsuo tsuba… you get the idea. :D

[Stephen]

Wonderful Gabe, do think it was polished by Dean or the Met? looks to be in great condition.

[Gabriel L]

Stephen, I don't know offhand, but the polish was good and the condition of the piece overall was remarkable with the exception of the missing bōshi (some minor openings that you would expect for Heian period). It had a tremendous amount of presence, very robust construction.

[Darcy]

The Met did not buy it, the owner is just kindly loaning it for them to display. He is a good guy. I was going to bid on that but I stood down as I knew the guy who was considering it and instead told him of my interest and said to go for it.

 

A lot of people squirrel them away to not be seen so it is nice when people do this (other NMB members have done similar things).

[Darcy]

Also Bonhams will have some nice swords in the next auction

[jrs]

Col. Hartley was my mentor from when I was age 13 until his death. I looked through the auction catalog and remember some of the pieces from his collection. He was always generous sharing his knowledge and passion. Even being a teenager, he sent swords home with me to study at length, many being juyo. I'm not sure I could be so trusting. I miss our visits Col.

James

[Gabriel L]

The Met did not buy it, the owner is just kindly loaning it for them to display. He is a good guy. I was going to bid on that but I stood down as I knew the guy who was considering it and instead told him of my interest and said to go for it. …A lot of people squirrel them away to not be seen so it is nice when people do this (other NMB members have done similar things).

 

Ah, the owner has my thanks then. :beer: Glad I caught it while it is on display!