MAGOROKU KANEMOTO (FLOURISHED CIRCA 1504-1528) A Jūyō-Ranked Mino Katana Muromachi period (1333-1573), early 16th century Sugata (configuration): hon-zukuri, iori-mune with a wide mihaba and ample hiraniku, sakizori curvature and a slightly extended kissaki Kitae (forging pattern): tightly packed itame-hada mixed with masame-hada and shirake Hamon (tempering pattern): ko-notare at the machi gradually changing to sanbon sugi, togari gunome with ko-nie, nioi, sunagashi and utsuri Boshi (tip): ko-maru a long return Nakago (tang): ubu, saki-iri-yamagata with taka-no-ha file marks, one hole, and signed Kanemoto Habaki (collar): one-piece, gold-foil Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 24 3/4in (62.9cm) Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 5/16in (3.3cm) Sakihaba (width before tip): 15/16in (2.4cm) In a shirasaya (wood storage scabbard) with sayagaki inscription by Dr. Honma Junji (1904-1991) attesting this sword to Magoroku Kanemoto (2). Footnotes: Accompanied a Jūyō Tōken certificate designating this sword as the 26th Jūyō Tōken, dated March 2, 1978. Provenance Saegusa Moritomo (1537-1575), by repute, and thence by descent to the Saegusa family Saegusa Hikoo (1890-1948), and thence by descent to the current owner Magoroku Kanemoto, who worked in the Akasaka area of Mino province, is considered- along with Kanesada-to be the finest swordsmith working in Mino during the early sixteenth century. Descended from a line of smiths known for producing swords of exceptional sharpness, Magoroku Kanemoto's swords have been designated saijō o-wazamono (supremely sharp), a rare distinction among his Mino contemporaries. He is credited with developing a distinctive hamon (tempered edge) known as sanbon sugi (literally three cedars), so named for its resemblance to a group of three trees. Saegusa Moritomo was a retainer of Takeda Shingen (1521-1573) and Saegusa Hikoo was a celebrated physicist who taught at Tohoku University. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing