Very long katana by the National Treasure swordsmith, Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一) with a outstanding dragon horimono.and with it's original Presentation Box. Sword is accompanied with a beautiful koshirae of dragon themed fittings. Blade is in very nice polish. Signed “Naniwa-jū Gassan Unryūshi Sadakazu seizō” (浪華住月山雲龍子貞一精造), meaning "Carefully forged by Gassan Sadakazu". The sword is dated November, 1868. The sword is accompanied with a NBTHK Hozon paper. The horimono is a masterfully carved dragon wrapping around a plum tree and a yari on the observe of the blade. The original presentation box has a hako-gaki by Gassan Sadakazu. The koshirae is all dragon motif fittings, tsuba is shakudo nanako with a dragon in gold on the rim of the tsuba, fuchi kashira is shakudo nanko with a gold dragon, menuki is a shakudo dragon. The koshirae is a white slik sageo (not pictured).
Gassan Sadakazu was born in 1836 to the Tskumoto family in the Omi province, which is modern day Shiga prefecture. Sadakazu was adopted by Gassan Sadayoshi (月山貞吉) Sadakazu started his training under Gassan Sadayoshi when he was 11 years old. He quickly mastered many sword forging techniques and made his first sword when he was 16 years old. In 1906, Sadakazu received the title of Teishitsu-gigei’in (帝室技芸員), which is the equivalent of modern day National Living Treasure.
|
