MINAMOTO MASAŌ (ACTIVE CIRCA 1844-1864) A Musashi Shin-shintō Katana in Handachi Mounts Edo period (1615-1868), dated 1864 Of honzukuri, iorimune, chū-gissaki configuration with a shallow toriizori curvature forged in itame hada mixed with mokume hada and a chōji, gunome midare tempered edge with tobiyaki and a midare komi bōshi, the ubu tang with katte sagari file marks, one hole, signed Minamoto Masaō, and dated Ganji gannen sangatsu no hi (A day in the third month of 1864), with a one-piece silver habaki; the handachi goshira-e mounted with en suite shakudō migakiji fittings chiseled in kebori and flush-inlaid in gold with matsukawa bishi (pine-bark crests) and scrolling vines, the saya decorated in aogai (crushed inlaid shell) with kojiri, kurikata, and koiguchi, the tsuka wrapped in black silk and mounted with fuchi-gashira and gold menuki formed as galloping horses, the rounded rectangular Kenjo-style iron tsuchimeji tsuba chiseled in low relief and inlaid in gold with scattered pine needles and cherry blossoms, the hitsuana chiseled as flower blossoms, plugged with gold Nagasa (length from tip of blade to beginning of the tang) 71.5cm (28 1/8in) long. Footnotes: This rare shin-shintō smith was a pupil of the celebrated Kiyomaro (1813-1854), considered one of the greatest swordsmiths of the Edo period. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing