A SUKEMUNE WAKIZASHI
Overview (Photos follow Description)
Description:
Sukemune was a highly regarded swordsmith from the Shimada School in the Soshu tradition that Masamune perfected in the 13th century in Kamakura.
He had a reputation for producing long tantos blessed with a thick kasane (spine) and fabulous jihada (body grain) comprising of itame and mokume (wood swirl patterns).
Katsuyori Takeda, son of Shingen Takeda (a preeminent Daimyo with exceptional military prestige) adored swords made by second generation Sukemune. Katsuyori lived between 1546 and 1582, so he may have very well owned this sword.
Edo period Shisa lions set on the tsuka (hilt) feature prominently on the oversized ray skin nodes. Shisa lions are a traditional Ryukyuan decoration, often in pairs, resembling a cross between a lion and a dog from Okinawan mythology.
Shisa lions are wards, believed to bring protection from evil spirits. The left shisa traditionally has a closed mouth, the right one an open mouth. This is a keeper.
Photos
*All photos taken professionally by Eric Bossick for Unique Japan
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