**First Time At Auction**

East Asia, Japan, early Edo or perhaps earlier Muromachi Period, ca. 1650 CE, signed "Bishu Osafune ju Sukesada" on tang. A hand-forged steel wakizashi bearing a shinogi-zukuri shape and a diamond-shaped (iori-mune) profile and the signature of swordsmith Bishu Osafune ju Sukesada on one side of the tang. The wavy temper line (gunome-choji) is formed by the tight hammer-folded graining (itame-hada) and bears a tight itame-hada forging grain. The marugata tsuba features wavy motifs while the iron fuchi, kashira, hamaki collar, and menuki decorate the cotton-wrapped handle. An urushi (lacquered) wooden scabbard accompanies the sword. Size (w/ sheath): 2.75" L x 2.7" W x 26.875" H (7 cm x 6.9 cm x 68.3 cm); (blade): 19.25" L x 0.9" W (48.9 cm x 2.3 cm)

This traditional Japanese sword was both a weapon and a symbol of authority and social status. The wakizashi paired with the longer katana sword marked the wearer as a samurai. The shorter sword was seen as an auxiliary weapon, also used for fighting in close quarters. Wakizashi could also be worn by non-samurai if worn alone, and members of the merchant class (chonin) wore them because of the frequency of encountering bandits when traveling between Japan's cities.

Over the centuries that katana and wakizashi were made, the process of their manufacture became heavily regulated. For example, in 1683, the Tokugawa Shogunate made laws concerning the maximum size of katana and wakizashi. Meanwhile, once a samurai took ownership of his new weapon, he had to wear it in a highly regulated manner. Wakizashi and katana in this period were both deadly weapons and signs of prestige. The craftsmanship of this piece is evident and reflects hundreds of hours of work.

Provenance: private Jones collection, Boulder, Colorado, USA; ex-private Sacramento, California, USA collection

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#180857

Small chips to scabbard and some handle parts, with light abrasions to blade, abrasions and expected wear to scabbard, with chipping to lacquer, otherwise in great condition. Great luster and sharpness to blade, and signature is still legible on tang.