Muramasa Katana On Aoi

[Gasam]

Heyas,

 

Just so noone misses it Tsuruta-san has a Muramasa katana up for grabs. Its mumei but as we know tang alterations on those blades were common.

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumeimuramasa

 

 

[kusunokimasahige]

Gorgeous blade. What I find very nice about Aoi is that they include shipping. That is different with several other vendors who offer high value items ex shipping.

[jason_mazzy]

curious why Hozon when it looks like a great work.

[Alex A]

curious why Hozon when it looks like a great work.

 

Hozen is enough for some folk, no need to go to higher papers, sword appraised, job done.

[jason_mazzy]

It was my understanding that at the time this was papered you didn't have to apply for TH, that TH was either given or not given at the initial submission.

[Shugyosha]

It looks like the nioi guchi falls off the edge of the blade in places. I know this isn't unusual with Muramasa's swords but is it a sufficient negative point for the shinsa team to give it Hozon rather than TH papers?

 

Best,

John

[Ray Singer]

curious why Hozon when it looks like a great work.

 

It is a mumei Muromachi period sword, which disqualified it from receiving Tokubetsu Hozon.

 

- Ray

[Alex A]

As I was driving out then I was thinking there may be another reason, one would think a big name would pull a few strings:)

[Ray Singer]

As I was driving out then I was thinking there may be another reason, one would think a big name would pull a few strings:)

 

The latest standards do seem to indicate that allowances will be made for famous smiths, however this sword was papered in 2013. At the time I believe Hozon was the best it could achieve and it may not have been resubmitted this year to attempt higher papers against the amended rules.

 

http://nihontocraft.com/2015_NBTHK_Nionto_Tosogu_Shinsa_Standards.html

 

- Ray

[Alex A]

I see, cheers Ray.

[jason_mazzy]

I believe Ray is correct. The amended rules.

[Derek]

I have asked the nbthk for clarification. Mumei muramasa still will not receive tokubetsu hozon.

[bigjohnshea]

Am I the only one who thinks it's silly to base a rating of TH or Juyo on whether or not a mei is present?  Just my opinion, but it seems like the quality of the work and the state of the blade's condition are what matters most.  History will have its way with swords just like everything else.  That doesn't meant the quality isn't there.

[Ray Singer]

I would consider the preservation of a nakago in its ubu signed form as a factor in evaluating its condition. I also agree with the NBTHK that more leeway should be given to older swords in this respect, and that modification in Muromachi and later swords is less acceptable. Tokubetsu Hozon and Juyo are also about the rarity of the sword and its value as an important reference example. That is why tired early koto swords will sometimes pass Juyo, if there is valuable reference material contained in the nakago.

 

Ray

[Jamie]

Judge the work, not the paper.

Study quality and then you'll know it when you see it.

I think this is why it's important to study good swords. They have attributes that lesser swords just don't have.

I personally don't see the hamon running off the blade. Close near the hamachi but not bad in comparison to some of his other blades I've seen.

[Derek]

 As we know, Muramasa blades commonly had signatures removed or obscured. 

Please refer to http://markussesko.com/2014/03/14/the-muramasa-ban-and-signature-alterations/

I think that this practice with his specific swords should be reflected in the policy of the NBTHK.  As of today, however, they will not issue Tokubetsu Hozon, as Muramasa is considered a Muromachi smith.  (As Ray noted)

[Gakusee]

Derek,

It is true that Muramasa smiths were considered Muromachi smiths and hence they would normally be excluded from ToHo. However there is also the exception granted to famous smiths (so a mumei M. blade or Edo blade by a famous smith might still receive ToHo papers, theoretically, if in excellent condition).

 

What is your personal experience? Did you try (and succeed) with your Muramasa blade with the partially obscured (but still distinguishable) mei? That will be an informative precedent.

Thank you for sharing your experience in advance.

Michael

[bigjohnshea]

I personally don't see the hamon running off the blade. Close near the hamachi but not bad in comparison to some of his other blades I've seen.

 

Here's a few images of it.

The hamon does not completely vanish, but the last polish likely took away its full character at this one spot near the hamachi.

[Pete Klein]

As of 10/14/15 AM here:

Starting price: 

¥2,500,000

Bid Increment: 

¥1,000

Highest Bid: 

¥4,151,000

Number of Bids: 

27

 

Seems to be some interest in this one...  

[Jean]

Yes, bloodthirsty guys Pete but not worth a nidai Kanemoto or a Nosada and less desirable than some less expensive Juyo. It is MUMEI.

[Pete Klein]

Yes, Jean.  I believe there can be passion in a name for some who know not better.

[Isocyanide]

Humans are not rational creatures, they will buy anything for the name.  If you put four wheels on a log and slapped any luxury car badge on it, people would buy it.

 

I think it's a pretty nice sword, but has some issues, which have been pointed out above. 

[Ted Tenold]

The attribution of Muramasa is the sizzle that sells the steak, true.  That said, the work looks quite good and I personally like it for that, though not enough to pay over 4 million yen for it.  

 

Consider also that a nice zaimei daito by Muramasa would be a multiple of the current price.  Daito by Muramasa are quite rare in any state. Muramasa is also a Saijo saku maker which also pretty rarified air.    

 

If I recall correctly a Juyo zaimei sold for over $100k+ not long ago.  So the fact that they were regularly altered does indeed diminish their achievable tier of paper when mumei, but also propels the zaimei ones to higher prices because a zaimei Muramasa is more desirable among the entire body of Muramasa works, which in turn, must be compared to each other in terms of overall blade health and condition regardless of mei or lack thereof.  The Hozon authentication of it as a Muramasa becomes the flying buttress for it's desirability and a Tokubetsu Hozon paper wouldn't bring a great deal more to the party in my opinion.  If it were Tokubetsu Hozon (meaning zaimei) then the question would be "will it go Juyo?" and now it becomes a deeper question of condition of the blade.  So is a zaimei sword of weaker condition that is Tokuho worth more than a nicer condition mumei?  I think this is where equilibrium manifests itself between them and where we see the break in the belief that paper level leads to price level, and demonstrates that while papers can add value, they also don't act as a singular force that drives pricing or defines rarity or quality in absolute terms.  

 

Also consider that there is an element of mystique to a "muramasa" and comparable examples of similar emotional draw can be found in just about every other gendre of collecting.  It's the intangible, subjective, emotional element that is the romance of collecting, and carries with it a price multiplier that is individual to each individual collector.  Auctions are the perfect environment for eliciting those innate price multipliers.

 

[Derek]

I predict that we will see 5 million yen when it hammers.  Supply and demand folks.

Muramasa is one of the few smiths who are known beyond the sword community.  I agree with everything Ted said.  I know that a Tokubetsu signed daito sold early this year for $110,000 from a dealer in Japan that I was speaking to.  It was beautiful, and probably will go Juyo. 

I have many people outside of sword collectors that email my site asking if I know for any Muramasa swords that are available....

[Isocyanide]

Muramasa is definitely present in popular culture, so I can understand the mass appeal.  My first experience with the name Muramasa was probably in the early 90s with the Final Fantasy video games series.  It's generally the 2nd best sword for ninja or samurai in the games, while Masamune is always the best.

[Derek]

Sold for:

¥6,301,000  ($52,850)