KUNISUKE II ('NAKA KAWACHI', DIED 1698) An Osaka Daisho with a Juyō-Ranked Katana and Fine Mounts Edo period (1615-1868), 17th century Katana Sugata (configuration): honzukuri, iorimune with a broad mihaba and thick kasane, with chū-gissaki point and toriizori curvature Kitae (forging pattern): bright itame of jinie Hamon (tempering pattern): a long yakidashi changing to flamboyant chōji midare with kobushigata chōji mixed with gunome midare with long ashi, yo, nioi, nie, kinsuji, and sunagashi Boshi (tip):ko-maru Nakago (tang): ubu with ō-sujikai file marks, one hole, and signed Kawachi no kami Kunisuke Habaki (collar): one-piece, silver with gilt highlights Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 29 1/2in (74.9cm) Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 3/8in (3.5cm) Sakihaba (width before tip): 1in (2.5cm) In a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard) Wakizashi Sugata (configuration): honzukuri, iorimune with a broad mihaba, chū-gissaki, toriizori Kitae (forging pattern): bright itamehada with standing jinie Hamon (tempering pattern): yakidashi changing to chōji midare with jukachōji, long ashi, saka-ashi, yo, and nioi Boshi (tip): ko-maru with a long return Nakago (tang): ubu, very slightly machiokuri, with ō-sujikai file marks, one hole and signed Kawachi no kami Kunisuke Habaki (collar): one-piece, silver with gilt highlights Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 20 3/4in (52.7cm) Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 1/4in (3.2cm) Sakihaba (width before tip): 7/8in (2.2cm) In a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard) The fine daisho koshira-e comprising black-lacquer saya, the wakizashi saya fitted with a kozuka deeply chiseled with crashing waves in bold relief and with gilt dots of foam, signed Ōmori Eishu, the ko-gatana signed Hizen no kuni Tadayosji, each tsuka wrapped in brown silk over same and fitted with shakudō fuchi-gashira boldly chiseled with waves and highlighted in gold, signed Ōmori Eishu, the gold menuki of coiling or writhing dragons, each of the oval shakudō nanako tsuba chiseled and inlaid of gold and shakudō, the dai with a dragon ascending to the clouds, and a minogame (bushy-tailed tortoise) by a crashing wave, and the sho with a phoenix in flight by a branch of paulownia, and a prancing kirin by rocks and reishi fungus, each signed Sanō Naonobu and with a kaō (5). Footnotes: With a certificate designating the katana as the 45th Jūyō Tōken (Precious sword) no. 10610 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated October 29, 2009. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing