G24180(W6617)　Wakizashi signed (chrysanthemum crest) Yamashiro-no-kami Fujiwara KUNIKIYO (first generation)	NBTHK(HOZON)	JPYen1,250,000
Shinto early Edo period (Kanei-ERA CIRCA1630) Echizen-province Length of cutting edge 41.7cm Curvature 0.8cm Width of base 31.0mm Thickness of base 6.6mm
Blade construction : Katagiri-ba zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba is wide and there is Sakizori curvature. The Hakiomote is curved with SUKEN and KOSHIHI on base and upper is RENDAI and BO-HI. with BONJI. The Hakiura side is curved with BOHI ,SOEHI and BONJI curvature. Forging : Hada is MOKUME which is fine and well kneaded, The entire appearance is strikingly obvious that is to say "ZANGURI". Hamon : Hamon is Onotare wavy. There is rich Nie-activity of which temper edge is covered in deep Nioi-kuchi that is vivid and bright. The upper of temper becomes SOSHU-SCHOOL Ni-ju-ha(double temper), Yubashiri and Kinsen/Sunagashi activity in the interior of temper. Temper of tip(Boshi) : Boshi is a bit wavy(notare), small circle turn back deeply. Tang(Nakago) : Nakago is UBU original. One peg hole. File mark is SUJIKAI. Kurijiri shape on bottom. The signature on Hakiura is Chrysanthemum crest then slim and small seven character that reads YAMA-SHIRONO-KAMI-FUJI-WARA-KUNI-KIYO. This is a work of first generation of KUNIKIYO in Echizen-province in the early 17th century. His real name is SHIMADA KICHIZAEMON who was born in the 7th year of Keicho(1602) in Matsumoto-city, Shinshu. His initial smith name was [SUKEMUNE] and had learned from KUNIHOIRO in Kyoto. After his master KUNIHIRO had passed away, he had come back to Matsumoto and then served for a feudal lord MATSUDAIRA TADAMASA in Kitano-sho(Fukui-city), Echizen province. In the second month, fourth year of Kanei(1627), enjoyed Yamshiro-daijo title and then Yamashiro-no-kami title and Chrysanthemum crest from the imperial court in the following year. The entire construction of this wakizashi is decent Katagiri-ba which was popular during Momoyama period. Width is wider and curvature is shallow leading to wide kissaki in full but there is Sakizori curve, beautiful shape. The grain is fine mokume and Hamon is ,SOSHU-DEN school, Nie-based Notare and O-midare-ha and splendidly active with rich Nie activity such as streaked with Sunagashi, Kinsuji, Ni-ju-ha and Yubashiri, bright and vivid, whereas his ordinal works shows YAMASHIRO-DEN Nie based straight temper that has close resembles to RAI-KUNIMITSU in the ancient period during late Kamakura period.. This is a superb work of 1st smith KUNIKIYO that shows his skill not only Yamashiro school but also in Soshu school. Among similar works, this blade is a delight and has been treasured by a KUNIHIRO and it's related smiths collector. Gold foiled habaki collar. Comes in Shira-Saya mounting.