Shimada Sunnobi Tanto

Mei: Yoshisuke

Length: 1 shaku 1 sun 4.5 bu, 13 5/8”

Sori: 2 bu, ¼”

 Motohaba: 1 sun, 1 3/16"

Period : Muromachi

    This is a Sunnobi tanto by Yoshisuke who was the mainline smith of the Shimada school. This school was very closely related to the Odawara Soshu School and there is a daisaku (joint work) of Yoshisuke and Tsunaiye. The connection between these schools has not been fully explained. They share a lot of common characteristics in workmanship. One of these is the tanogobara shape of the nakago.

 The first generation Yoshitsuke worked around 1480 and was known for his outstanding tanto that resembled works of Shintogo Kunimitsu the founder of the Soshu School, narrow width and short length with suguha hamon with fine bright nie.

The second generation worked around 1500 and made Soshu style works reminiscent of the Nambukucho period (Embun/Joji), wider with an extended length and a more active notare or hitatsura hamon. Since there was a close resemblance to the famous mainline Soshu smiths, many of Yoshisuke’s works had their mei removed and that of Masamune, Sadamune or Hiromitsu added at a later time. Because of this signed works of this smith are quite rare. 

From examining this piece I believe this is a work of the second generation. It has the extended length of the Embun/Joji period Soshu works along with the wider width. The forging is a itame with o-itame worked in and the Hamon is a  slightly undulating suguha with a omaru boshi done in a very fine nie deki.

This blade is in unrestored condition with some staining and fine scratches. There is one very small nick on the edge which would polish out if restored.The mounts are Edo period with a fresh wrap on the handle. There is a nice silver foil habaki in excellent condition and two gold foil seppas. The tsuba and fuchi kashira are iron with soft metal highlights. The menuki are shakudo with gold. The saya is a beautiful lacquer with fine green shell embedded in it. There is a large spot were a piece is missing at the back near the koiguchi.

Soshu blades exhibit some of the most beautiful characteristics seen in the Japanese sword, however they are a very small percentage of the blades that were made. It is quite rare to find a piece with an original mei still intact

This is a great opportunity for someone to buy a quality koto Soshu blade at a low price and have it restored or keep it as is.   

HOLD

 

 

 

Here is a picture showing the damaged saya, I would recommend having it repaired by repairing the damaged part and lacquering it in black or dark green without touching the rest of the saya in order to preserve as much of the original saya as possible.

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