Type: Broken Wakizashi Period: Late Edo (19th century) Hamon: unclear Mei: 吉光
This wakizashi, signed 吉光 (Yoshimitsu) is housed in Edo-period koshirae, showing age throughout but retaining a unified, evocative appearance. The blade is in unpolished, rusted condition and terminates in a break near the habaki. The blade is shinogi zukuri with a wide mihaba and a pleasingly dense feel in the hand. The patina appears to date the blade to the 19th century.
The signature itself is interesting in that it is likely an homage to Rai Yoshimitsu, a famous early smith copied by dozens of smiths over the course of swordmaking history, with plenty of homage mei, or outright forgeries (gimei). Given the age of the tang, this is no doubt this piece is one such piece, in conversation with the great smith of centuries earlier.
The koshirae mounts are well-coordinated. The fuchi appears to be iron with shakudō with gold gilding detailing in a motif of waves and grasses, . The tsuka is wrapped in gold-brown silk ito in tsumami-maki, over paneled samegawa, with copper menuki in the form of a playful figure. The kashira is a nice black water buffalo horn piece. The tsuba is maru-gata with kebori lines curling across its iron surface. The habaki is a classic two piece copper design with subtle texturing.
The saya is ishime-ji stone textured black lacquer with signs of age and wear, but in good condition. The black water buffalo kojiri sets off the piece nicely.
