Koto Japanese Samurai Sword Tanto By Bizen Kiyomitsu In Exquisitely Carved And Rare Shin Shinto Mounts

11 and 1/4 inch Shira tsukuri blade with complex suguha hamon (temper). Well executed wide hi (groove) on ura and bo-hi on emote. Ubu nakago with two mekugi ana (holes) signed Bizen Kuni Osafune Kiyomitsu has excellent untouched Koto patina. Fine silver foil habaki.

As interesting as the genuine Bizen tanto blade is the mounts are what separate this tanto from others. The tsuka is carved in the round with a laughing elephant head complete with recurved trunk, tusks, and ears all in pristine condition with no damage, The scabbard is deeply carved with clouds and diamond blossoms ending in the elephant’s hindquarters with recurved tail.

The condition of the blade is good with most details visible, masame hada with ji nie. The cinnabar lacquer is pristine throughout which is unheard of. The kurikata is in the form of a finely executed grinning copper oni (demon) with gold eyes. This is a spectacular work of the master makie artist which takes this tanto into museum territory.