A katana | Attributed to Chiyozuru Morihiro | Nambokucho period, 14th century

Property from a Private Collector in Los Angeles

A katana

Attributed to Chiyozuru Morihiro 

Nambokucho period, 14^th century 

Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, koshi-zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: Ko-mokume hada with ji-nie and utsuri

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Suguha hamon with slight midare in places 

Boshi [tip]: Maru-boshi with slight kaeri

Horiomono [carvings]: Futatsu hi to the omote, bohi to the ura

Nakago [tang]: Osuriage, three mekugi-ana, yoko-yasurime, mumei

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt clad  

Koshirae [mount]: The black kawari-nuri saya, the brass fittings alternately decorated on a hammered ground of blossom shapes and wave like forms, the mokko-gata iron tsuba, chased and engraved with a dragon among swirling clouds, details in gilt

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] with sayagaki

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 67 cm., 26⅜ in. 

Sori [curvature]: 1.8 cm., ¾ in. 

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.2 cm., ⅞ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.8 cm., 1⅛ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preserving], no. 1006453 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 29 (2017).