FS: Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa Masterpiece Tanto

[SwordGuyJoe]

All,
Here is my last offering for a little while. It is an absolute masterpiece of Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa. I have handled or viewed no less than 50 Shigemasa swords and NONE have been of this quality. Am I biased? Of course. But I am also honest.

I have attached the sales page, including the asking price, to show the price in which I paid, as I snapped it up as soon as it was listed. I don't recall the exchange rate when I purchased it, but today, the exchange rate is Approximately $7,800 (USD).

SOLD

Sword Information:
Type: Tanto
Sugata: Hira-zukuri
​
Mei: Sakai Shigemasa shin tan kore o horu (truly forged and carved by Sakai Shigemasa)
Date/Era: Showa go ju nen hachi gatsu kichi sho bi (A good and lucky day in August, 1975)
School/Den: Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu Mon
Tradition: Soshu
Authentication/Papers: NBTHK Hozon
​
Sword Details:
Nagasa: 28.3 cm
Mihaba: 2.6 cm
Kasane: 0.65 cm
Nakago Jiri: Ubu, Kurijiri
Yasurime: Kiri
Mune: Iori
Jihada: Ko-Itame
Hamon: Active Gunome, with Sunagashi and Kinsuji
Boshi: Komaru, w/ Short Turnback
​
Smith Information:
Rating:
- Toko-Taikan: 2 Million Yen
- Gendai Tosho Ninki Banzuke: East Block, Maegashira
Smith Details:
Shigemasa (繁政), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Tōkyō – „Shigemasa“ (繁正), „Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa“ (酒井一貫斎繁正), „Tōtō Jōhoku
ni oite Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa kinsaku“ (東都於城北酒井一貫斎繁正謹作), „Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa“ (酒井一貫斎繁政), „Sakai
Shigemasa hori-dōsaku“ (酒井繁政彫同作), civilian name „Sakai Hiroshi“ (酒井寛), he was born on August 19th 1905 as third son of Sakai
Yasujirō (酒井安次郎), the younger brother of Miyaguchi Shigetoshi (宮口繁寿), in Shizuoka, in 1925 he started his apprenticeship as a
swordsmith under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間繁継) and became independent in 1932, he signed his name first with the characters (繁正),
during World War II he worked for the forges „Nihontō-tanrenkai“ (日本刀鍛錬会) and „Ōkura-Nihontō-tanrenjo“ (大倉日本刀鍛錬所),
later he lived in Tōkyō´s Itabashi district (板橋), as his master Shigetsugu he too was an excellent horimono carver, he died 1995 at the age
of 91, during World War II he forged ten tantō for Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku (山本五十六, 1884-1943) who rewarded several persons
with them for their merits in assisting the attack on Pearl Harbor which was also co-planned by Yamamoto
From Markus Sesko's, "Index of Japanese Swordsmiths"

[SwordGuyJoe]

More pics.  Professional picture credit to Tsuruginoya.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SwordGuyJoe]

And the sales page from Tsuruginoya

 

短刀 酒井一貫斎繁政｜日本刀専門店 つるぎの屋.pdf

[SwordGuyJoe]

Sold