A BIZEN KATANA WITH GOTŌ-SCHOOL FITTINGS Muromachi (1333-1573) or Edo (1615-1868) period, 15th/16th century Of honzukuri, iorimune, chū-gissaki, toriizori configuration forged in tightly packed itamehada with prominent jinie, the tempered edge gunime midare based in nioi and nie with tobiyaki ending in a midare komi bōshi, chiseled on both sides with bohi ni tsurehi, the ō-suriage tang with two holes, 22 5/8in (57.5cm) long, with a one-piece gilt-copper habaki; the koshira-e comprising a later black-lacquer saya, the tsuka wrapped in brown silk over same and fitted with shakudō nanako fuchi decorated with cranes in gold takazōgan, and a black-lacquer kashira, the gilt menuki formed as pairs of flying cranes, the oval shakudō nanako tsuba decorated on one side with a crane flying over swirling waters in gold and silver takazōgan, signed on the reverse on a diagonal section of gilt plate Gotō jō Mitsutaka (Gotō Enjō, 1721-1784) and with the artist's kaō 34in (87.4cm) long overall Footnotes: Provenance Alexander G. Moslé Collection, sold Parke-Bernet Galleries, April 22, 1948, lot 211. Published Moslé Collection (1909), no.41, p.23; Moslé Collection (1910), p. 203, pl. VI, fig. 20; Moslé Collection (1914), no. 41, pl. VII; Moslé Collection (1932a), no. 41, p.53. Saleroom notices: Please note the publication information is as follows: Moslé, Alexander G, Japanische Kunstwerk: Waffen Schwertzieraten, Lacke, Gewebe, Holzschnitte, Sammlung Moslé, exhibition catalog, Berlin: Königliches Kunstgewerbe-Museum, 1909, no. 41, p.23. ------------- 'The Sword Ornaments of the Gotō Shirobei Family', in Transactions and Proceedings of the Japan Society, London, Vol. III, The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Sessions, 1907-1909, pp. 187-208, London: Keegan Paul Trench, Trübner and Co., 1910, p.203, pl.VI, fig.20. ------------- Japanese Works of Art: Armour, Weapons, Sword-Fittings, Lacquer, Pictures, Textiles, Colour-Prints, Selected from the Moslé Collection, introduction by Henri L. Joli, 2 vols. edition limited to 200 numbered copies, Leipzig: E.A Seeman, 1914, p. 203, pl. VII. -------------The Moslé Collection: Descriptive Catalogue to Be Used in Connection with the Illustrations of 'Japanese Works of Art' Selected from The Moslé Collection: Portfolio I, Published by E. A. Seemann, Leipzig, 1914, vol. I, forward by Robert Hamilton Rucker, Leipzig: Poeschel & Trepte, 1932, no. 41. p. 53. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing

Saleroom Notice:
Please note the publication information is as follows: Moslé, Alexander G, Japanische Kunstwerk: Waffen Schwertzieraten, Lacke, Gewebe, Holzschnitte, Sammlung Moslé, exhibition catalog, Berlin: Königliches Kunstgewerbe-Museum, 1909, no. 41, p.23. ------------- "The Sword Ornaments of the Gotō Shirobei Family", in Transactions and Proceedings of the Japan Society, London, Vol. III, The Seventeenth and Eighteenth Sessions, 1907-1909, pp. 187-208, London: Keegan Paul Trench, Trübner and Co., 1910, p.203, pl.VI, fig.20. ------------- Japanese Works of Art: Armour, Weapons, Sword-Fittings, Lacquer, Pictures, Textiles, Colour-Prints, Selected from the Moslé Collection, introduction by Henri L. Joli, 2 vols. edition limited to 200 numbered copies, Leipzig: E.A Seeman, 1914, p. 203, pl. VII. -------------The Moslé Collection: Descriptive Catalogue to Be Used in Connection with the Illustrations of "Japanese Works of Art" Selected from The Moslé Collection: Portfolio I, Published by E. A. Seemann, Leipzig, 1914, vol. I, forward by Robert Hamilton Rucker, Leipzig: Poeschel & Trepte, 1932, no. 41. p. 53.