Boston Museum swords authenticated in Japan in 1976.

[Jussi Ekholm]

Well as I was doing some research on some Jūyō related stuff, I found info on Tōken Bijutsu 235 (August 1976) when looking at Jūyō 24 results and submission numbers that the magazine had. There was additional section that was not included in the Jūyō 24 book, and I realized that during this session I believe separately NBTHK authenticated 18 swords and 3 tsuba for Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

 

Now of course I was really into hunting them down and finding info on them. I believe I found 17 out of the 18 swords and all 3 tsuba are Natsuo, out of those I have 1 that I believe is certain due to theme and 2 options for number 3. Here is the list of the items and link to item on the MFA page.

 

Tantō - Rai Kunitoshi - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27497/sword-of-the-tanto-type?ctx=0a760ee2-a846-4894-a542-cf05cea18e4c&idx=0

Tantō (actually wakizashi sized) - Rai Kunimune - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11209/sword-of-the-wakizashi-type?ctx=3ac83282-31da-474c-b24a-816811aa0889&idx=0

Tantō - Norinaga (1319) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/25285/sword-of-the-tanto-type?ctx=df89231f-97bd-4445-bac3-f69b6ffa6173&idx=1

Katana - Ko-Bizen Yoshikane [71,2 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11167/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=15631a84-e724-4ea4-a1b0-d61b9c2f0b5d&idx=0

Tachi - Shigehisa - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27461/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=6f31b97d-3d5d-4758-8bd8-81f73697bc45&idx=0

Katana - Fukuoka Ichimonji - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27458/sword-of-the-katana-type-formerly-a-tachi?ctx=fcd9846d-a93a-43b2-9e65-8fb2363f1ff3&idx=3

Tachi - Naganori - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/28164/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=fcd9846d-a93a-43b2-9e65-8fb2363f1ff3&idx=6

Tachi - Sukeshige (1343) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27390/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=fcd9846d-a93a-43b2-9e65-8fb2363f1ff3&idx=0

Tachi - Nagamitsu - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/28165/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=e3f9dc6d-dd01-42ef-83cd-28b9e94f482a&idx=4

Katana - Nagamitsu - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27468/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=e3f9dc6d-dd01-42ef-83cd-28b9e94f482a&idx=3

Tachi - Kagemitsu [74,4 cm] (I believe it to be this as others have longer mei & orikaeshi) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/25251/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=8aed4d2a-6c36-4503-9123-59837b9077ae&idx=1

Tachi - Kagemoto - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/25247/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=3609d043-e8a1-44c2-ab72-8d96e8f58fa2&idx=0

Tachi - Kunimune [78,3 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27462/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=0659cce9-2883-4870-8e3f-e51b957f3505&idx=1

Katana - den Unji [71,1cm] - this I couldn't find at the museum site

Katana - den Chōgi - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11227/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=d5cf90ae-6067-4190-a5c4-b5535e55accb&idx=10

Tachi - Morimitsu (1396) [72,3 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/28930/sword-of-the-tachi-type?ctx=40fb3ace-c776-4deb-b522-c2606583437d&idx=1

Katana - Kunimichi [76,5 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27399/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=27cc3c69-5327-4a66-be62-1dcb1e48a69d&idx=25

Katana -  Kunikiyo (with cutting test) [75,6 cm] - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/27394/sword-of-the-katana-type?ctx=5a1ec40d-84dc-4277-b050-160682aef399&idx=22

 

Tsuba - Natsuo (Deer theme) - https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11895/tsuba-with-design-of-deer-and-moon?ctx=bd241c00-f43b-4cd8-b57b-ee6a3b163631&idx=7

Tsuba - Natsuo (Peony theme) - This I couldn't match to MFA items, has also signature 夏雄製 (印銘)

Tsuba - Natsuo (Iris theme) 2 options -  https://collections.mfa.org/objects/11889/tsuba-with-design-of-iris?ctx=9bd2be43-ea15-40bc-9d4b-1a5d5564412c&idx=2 or https://collections.mfa.org/objects/205812/tsuba-with-design-of-reishi-fungus-and-irises?ctx=598d0e0b-1c78-4d03-8346-4b2e204f14b2&idx=29

 

Is any of this relevant info? Well I had fun searching them today and thought I would share it with people. This was also first time I saw NBTHK authenticate items in Jūyō shinsa that are not included in Jūyō book. Of course all of this happened long time ago but these items still are in the US (However just noted that many of these fine swords are on loan in Japan at Shizuoka City Museum at this moment).

[BrentC]

Wonderful!  thanks for sharing

[Brian]

As always, amazing and fascinating research Jussi. We all appreciate it.

[Rivkin]

They also did a review of the restoration work done in Nara Buddhist art museum's journal.

[David Flynn]

I have the Boston Museum book, if anyone is interested.

[Jussi Ekholm]

I must admit I am often bit skeptical about the legitimacy of some Japanese items in western museums. So it was really nice to see that these items were verified by NBTHK and I believe some very nice swords not in this list also headed to Japan for display this July. I feel that many western museums are very hesitant to research and give access to their Japanese swords (I know UK has great museums that have worked with Tōken GB).