#39) Fantastic Akama Tsunatoshi Mumei tanto in superb quality lacquered koshirae
This tanto is mumei but attributed to Akama Tsunatoshi by the NBTHK it is excellent work with very good horimono ( carving). This smith was working in Tempo era up to the end of the Shin Shinto. He followed the work of and was a live in student of Chounsai Tsunatoshi. He made Midari choji toran temper like Chounsai. This blade reflects his ability as it is in excellent midare choji temper with a thick nioi and a very pronounced utsuri. A very good example of this smiths work who was the best in all of the Yonezawa area. The jihada is a small itame with utsuri the full length and reflects light very well. The horimono is hachiman daibosatsu on the omote and a stylized dragon on the ura. This blade is in the perfect tanto size of josun, 8.5sun length while the koshirae is made to look like a short wakizashi. I would think that it was a special mount made for a professional person to wear. He would have had to have been a person of some importance because the cost of these mounts and lacquer work would have been very expensive.
The metal work on the koshirae is by Omori Hidetomo. The fuchi and tsuba are both signed. During his life it seems he used three different seals ( kakihan). This one is exactly like the one shown on page 379 of the Kinko Meikan. All of the metal work on the koshirae is by the same smith. It is “Iisaku”meaning one of the same hand. This piece is superb in that Hidetomo seems to have taken this work a step further in excellence. We have owned many Omori wave pattern works but this one is par excellence. Not only are there undercut waves but there are fish swimming intertwined with in the depth of the waves. On the fuchi kashira there are 5 fish. On the wave menuki there is a lobster and octopus. The tsuba has seven fish. The kurikata has solid gold eyelets with one gold fish swimming on the top. The fantastic kojiri has three swimming fish. The base metal is silver but has age patina so it actually looks like shibuichi. Kozuka is missing. The lacquer work is top quality of finely painted waves and seaweed. The lacquer under coat is of a green aogai which shows through the gold and silver lacquer waves.
In the Kinko Jiten it states that Hidetomo died in 1807 at age of 65. He is said to be the student of Omori Teruhide and was granted permission to use the Omori name. A wonderful piece for the collector that wants good work in a blade and great artwork in the mounts.
Temper: midare choji with thick nioi
Jihada: small itame with utsuri
Horimono: Hachiman daibosatsu omote and stylized dragon ura
Certificate: NBTHK Hozon certificate
Price: $23,000
