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A Superb Early Dated Japanese Meiji Era Tanto

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,375.00 USD Estimated At:2,750.00 - 3,250.00 USD
A Superb Early Dated Japanese Meiji Era Tanto
<Our item number 111516><B>A Superb Early Dated Japanese Meiji Era Tanto.</B> A handsome early Meiji period Tanto with black lacquer mounts with mother-of-pearl flower decoration and a signed and dated blade in good original polish. Has a multi-color sageo knot and ko-gatana and kozuka in rear pocket of the saya, the kozuka decorated with a gold foiled rain dragon, this with light wear. The hira-zukuri blade has a nioi based irregular gunome temper line with lots of sunagashi and ko-nie. The blade measures just over 7 inches in length; the solid silver habaki with &#34;cat scrtach&#34; design. The tang is signed &#34;Sugawara Shigekuni&#34; and is dated &#34;Meiji San Nen Aki&#34; or &#34;Autumn, Third Year of Meiji&#34;, i.e. 1870. It is further inscribed under the date &#34;Oite Kyoto San Jo&#34; or &#34;At Kyoto Sanjo&#34;. Kyoto was the old capitol and Sanjo is a road in the old city. Sugawara Shigekuni worked in Kai Province at the end of the sword making era about 1869-70. Other than some loss to the mo ther-of pearl flower petals, a handsome specimen in very nice overall condition. <BR>Estimated Value &#36;2,750-3,250. <BR><BR>Our item number 111516<BR><IMAGES><P ALIGN="CENTER"><IMG SRC="http://64.60.141.195/photos/40jpegs/111516.jpg"> </P></IMAGES>