Excellent Mounted Shinshinto TantoA presentation to French General Marie-Joseph Chatelain in 1902
This is an extraordinary and beautiful mounted tanto. The blade is signed Kawabe Fujiwara Masatsugu with monogram, and dated Tenpo Shichi Hinoto Saru (Year of the Monkey 1836).
Before beginning the descriptions of this work and background on the smith, it must be first stated that this sword is unpapered, and thus, remains to be officially authenticated as a work of the inscribed maker. .This tanto has resided with the Chatelain family since it was giving to General Marie-Joseph Chatelain by the Japanese in 1902 after his service with an eight nation alliance to suppress the Boxer Rebellion. He was also awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure 4th Class. Therefore, it has never been submitted to shinsa, and thus the authenticity of it as a genuine work of Masatsugu remains to be confirmed. However, comparisons of its mei with references (shown below) illustrates it is consistent in style, size, and rendering, and the workmanship of the sword is everything one would expect from a skilled maker of the Naotane line. As a consignment on behalf of the Chatelain family, I cannot offer any guarantees that it will pass shinsa. I will however say that in my opinion, the mei, yasuri, and workmanship in this piece are compelling and makes it an excellent candidate for submission. Masatsugu is highly regarded with recorded Juyo level works demonstrating his caliber. While it is unreasonably optimistic to expect Juyo ranking for a tanto by him, a Hozon or perhaps Tokubetsu Hozon is not out of the question at all. It has been priced as an obviously high quality piece with nice mountings in very good condition, with consideration that it is an unpapered work with good potential.
Fujishiro rates Suishinshi Masatsuga as Josaku, and notes that he died in 1860. Both his family lines and training descend from two of the best sword makers in the Shinshinto period; Suishinshi Masahide (who is regarded as the “Father of the Shinshinto period), and Taikei Naotane. He was Masahide’s grandson, and trained with Naotane who was himself the number one student of Masahide. Furthermore, Masatsugu married Naotane’s daughter becoming his son-in-law, while also assuming the Kawabe head of family. Kawabe was his family name from his father and grandfather; the first Masahide and second Masahide respectively. He was proficient working in all traditions of sword forging with Bizen and Soshu his main areas of focus.
The blade is nothing short of a fascinating blend of Yamato and Soshu traditions. The hada is a skillfully forged masame with stacks of nie running the length of the blade from nakago to tip. The hamon is a wonderfully luminous Soshu influenced ogunome-midare in fine ko-nie deki, with thick stacks of sunagashi throughout, and long ashi reaching all the was to the edge The stacks of nie sunagashi rise high into the ji becoming a yubashiri like formation. Glittering jinie are sprinkled on the surface. The boshi is komaru with hakkake on one side and yakitsume on the other. The hirazukuri with mitsumune also hints as Soshu influence. Masame is difficult to forge tightly and thus is some kitae are to be expected, but this blade is incredibly well forged with only one very minor seam to be found, and that only with some close examination. There are some very minor chips along the edge, but are not seriously detrimental to the condition or enjoyment of the sword. While they could be removed in polishing, I see it as unnecessary as they are minor, and the sword is fully enjoyable as it is.
Nagasa: 23.5 cm (9 1/4 inches)
Signed Omote: Kawabe Fujiwara Masatsugu (kao) The koshirae is also original to the blade since it was bestowed to General Chatelain. However the saya was replaced due to some conditional considerations, but the old original saya was retained and is included with sale. It is pictured below. It is lacquered using powdered abalone shell suspended in the lacquer giving the green color.
The shakudo fuchi and kashira with the iron tsuba are decorated en-suite in a river and boat theme including river reeds, herons, and boat and paddles. The menuki are floral designs. All are mounted on a tsuka wrapped in jabaramaki (braided silk threads). The kozuka is yamagane with katakiribori of a plum branch with crescent moon. It is signed with a very obvious gimei to Goto Ichijo (kao), and has some some dings and dents in places, but still an enjoyable color and design. The kogatana is also signed Shimada Kojuro Sukemune, but the vast majority of kogatana signatures are little more than decorative homage on a utilitarian blade so it also should not be seriously regarded as by that maker. It has significant chips in the edge and a hagire. The koshirae is in very good condition overall, fits tightly, and has a good weight in hand.
A copy of the PDF from the family descendant and current owner documenting lineage, the tanto, and background information on General Chatelain will be provided to the buyer.
On Consignment: $6,450.00 More pictures:
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