‡ Ⓜ A JAPANESE NAGINATA BY MIZUTA KUNIMITSU, MID-17TH CENTURY

in new shirasaya (resting scabbard); with a black lacquered handle and scabbard decorated with finely sprinkled aogai (mother of pearl); nakago (tang) signed 備中國水田住大月安左衛門尉國光作 ì Bitchû Kuni (Bitchû Province) Mizuta jû (resident of Mizuta) Ôtsuki Yasuzaemon (no) Jô Kunimitsu saku (made by Kunimitsu, Honorary Guardian of Ôtsuki); the blade deeply curved with shinogi (longitudinal ridge line) and a broad notare (undulating) hamon (tempering pattern); one broad and one narrow hi (groove) filled with red lacquer; fitted with a copper habaki (collar)

Kunimitsu was the third son of the fourth generation Bitchu-Mizuta Kunishige. He worked in Osaka around 1645 but later moved to Edo where he was employed as a swordsmith by the Abe clan.

Part proceeds to benefit the Acquisition Fund of the Arms and Armor department, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.