BIZEN KIYOMITSU LINEAGE (ACTIVE CIRCA 1530-1560) A Bizen Katana in Tachi Mounts Muromachi period (1333-1573), dated 1553 Sugata (configuration): honzukuri, iorimune, toriizori, chu-gissaki Kitae (forging pattern): itamehada with some mokumehada in jinie Hamon (tempering pattern): chōji midare mixed with gunome midare with tobiyaki, ashi, nie, kinsuji, and faint utsuri Bōshi (tip): kakikake Horimono (carving): boldly chiseled with Fudo Myō on the omote side and gomabashi with renge and bonji on the ura side Nakago (tang): ubu, machiokuri, one hole, signed Bizen Osafune Kiyomitsu, and dated Tenbun nijūnen hachigatsu kichijitsu (An auspicious day in the eighth month of 1553) Habaki (collar): one-piece, gilt-copper Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 26in (66cm) Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 1/8in (2.9cm) Sakihaba (width before tip): 5/8in (1.6cm) The tachi goshira-e comprising a nashiji saya decorated in family crests, possibly that of a branch of the Sagara clan of Higo province, and scrolling vines in gold hiramaki-e, the hardware all silver ishimeji with matching gilt family crests, the hanger hardware chiseled with the same crest, the tsuka wrapped with black silk over same and mounted with fuchi-gashira decorated to match, and large menuki in silver and gilt formed as a serpentine dragon and Mount Fuji, the silver sanmai awase tsuba decorated with the same crests in gilt 39in (99cm) long overall For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing