Japanese Katana Sword, Shirasaya Mounted Blade, With Nbthk Certificate - Late Edo.

JAPAN - Late Edo (Kansei Era: 1789 - 1801). Samurai Katana. FUSHI - KASHIRA in engraved and patinated copper suite with decoration of a quail in the reeds. TSUKA in wood covered with ray skin, braided with white silk. MENUKIS in chiseled and patinated copper representing a standard. TSUBA maru-gatta in wrought iron, openwork and engraved with geometric patterns. SAYA in matt black lacquered wood, the kojiri representing a branch of cherry blossom above the water in which one can see the reflection of the moon. HABAKI in copper. Straight blade, regular hamon, straight and well marked, the tang pierced twice. It has on one side a horimono depicting an apricot tree in blossom, and on the other side bonji (Sanskrit characters). This blade is attributed to a work of the 6th generation of Hizenkoku Tadayoshi (六代肥前国忠吉) during the Kansei period (1789-1801: late Edo period), according to NTHK's assessment. Hizenkoku is the name of the province located in Saga Prefecture and it means that Tadayoshi was residing in this area when he forged this blade. The 6th generation Tadayoshi was born as the son of the 5th generation Tadayoshi in the 1st year of the Genbun era (1736). Originally, his birth name was Tadahiro during his father's lifetime. However, he began to reclaim his father's name and changed his name to Tadayoshi after his death in 1775. In addition, he received the honorable title of "Omi no Kami" for his father in the second year of the Kansei period (1790). The swordsmith name Tadayoshi lasted for nine generations from the Azuchi Momoyama-Edo period (1572-1868). During the Edo period, they served the Nabeshima clan, which ruled Saga Domain where Hizen Province was located. The first generation Tadayoshi was born and raised in Saga Domain. In 1596, under the domain's orders, he went to Kyoto to learn sword forging techniques from Umetada Myojyu, one of the greatest swordsmiths of the early Edo period. He perfected his skills and returned to Saga Domain two years later (1598). The first head of the Nabeshima clan, Nabeshima Katsushige, greatly appreciated the work of the first generation of Tadayoshi. Katsushige then appointed him his Okakaekaji, a swordsmith who exclusively forged swords for a specific domain or clan. Tadayoshi began to stay near Saga Castle, the headquarters of the Nabeshima clan. He founded the Hizen Tadayoshi school, which trained over 100 swordsmiths during the Edo period. Tadayoshi's generation served the Nabeshima clan in the late Edo period. Blacksmiths from Hizen Province worked under the auspices of the Nabeshima clan, like Tadayoshi. They could produce beautiful Jigane-pattern blades, also known as Hizen To, using and blending carbon steel made in Western countries. Hizenkoku prospered through international trade. The geographical location of this area allowed easy access to Western carbon steel. 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 evaluation organizations in modern Japan. Dimensions: 99 x 7 x 7 cm. Cutting edge length: 67.0 cm. Curvature: 1.6 cm.