Japanese Katana Sword, Blade Mounted In Shirasaya, With Nbthk Certificate - Early Edo (17th Century).

JAPAN - Early Edo (17th century). Samurai Katana. FUSHI - KASHIRA in chased copper, partially gilded and silvered (wear) on a nanako background and on the theme of the eight Taoist hermits. TSUKA in wood covered with ray skin. MENUKIS in chased and gilded copper depicting scholars, one devoting himself to the art of calligraphy and the other to that of music. TSUBA mokko-gatta in wrought iron, openwork, chased and partially gilded (wear) depicting the seven sages in the bamboo grove. SAYA in lacquered wood, predominantly green, in very good condition. HABAKI in gilded copper. Straight blade, regular hamon, straight and well marked, the tang pierced once, signed by Choshu Ju Fujiwara Kiyoshige（長州住藤原清重). Choshu is another name for Nagato Province (present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture), and Choshu Ju means that he resided in that area when he forged this blade. The maker's name, Kiyoshige, was passed down through the generations in Choshu from the early to late Edo period (late 17th to mid-19th century). According to NBTHK's appraisal, this blade was forged by Kiyoshige, who was active in the early Edo period. Sold with the stand, its silk carrying case, and its NBTHK certificate. NBTHK, also known as Nihon Bijutsu Touken Hozon Kyokai (the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Sword Art), is one of the oldest Japanese sword appraisal organizations in modern Japan. Dimensions: 7.5 x 105 x 7 cm. Edge length: 71.6 cm. Curvature: 1.5 cm.