SENGO MURAMASA (BORN BEFORE 1501) An Ise Tantō Muromachi period (1333-1573), 16th century Sugata (configuration): hirazukuri, iorimune with slight koshizori curvature Kitae (forging pattern): itamehada Hamon (tempering pattern): flamboyant nioi deki hako gunome midare mirrored on both sides with ko-nie and yo Boshi (tip): ko-maru with hakikake Horimono (carving): a dragon on a Buddhist ken on the omote side; bonji and renge on the ura side Nakago (tang): ubu, tanagobara with three holes and kiri file marks, originally signed Muramasa with later added alteration Soshū no jū and hiro Habaki (collar): one-piece, silvered Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 11 1/4in (28.6cm) Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 1/8in (2.9cm) In shirasaya (wood storage scabbard) with sayagaki written by Tanobe Michihiro with detailed description concerning the Edo-period alteration of the signature (2). Footnotes: Accompanied by Hozon Tōken (Sword Worthy of Preservation) certificate no. 3013420 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated August 26, 2016. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing