DAITO SIGNED IZU NO KAMI FUJIWARA KINMICHI WITH KIKU MON, WAKIZASHI SIGNED IGA NO KAMI FUJIWARA KINMICHI WITH KIKU MON, EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY); KOSHIRAE TAISHO PERIOD (20TH CENTURY)

The blade of the daito accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Tokubetsu Kicho Token [Especially Valuable Sword] no. 5603221 issued by the Nippon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword] on 26th November 1981.

Willem Dolphyn (1935-2016)

Willem Dolphyn was born in 1935 in Antwerp, Belgium. He grew up in an exceptional artistic environment where collecting art and antiques was a way of life. His father Victor Dolphyn was a painter and taught at the Royal Academy of art, and his grandfather, Willem Elsschot, was a well-known Flemish writer.

As a child, during the difficult war years, Willem drew pages full of incredibly detailed war scenes. Later, he earned a living creating illustrations including book illustrations and comic strips. He started his painting career in the sixties and his first exhibition in Antwerp was followed by many others around the world, including London, Monaco, and Japan.

His fascination with miniatures and his incredible eye for detail resulted in his love for the fine detail and precision of Japanese works of art, in particular swords and armour. He bought his first katana at the age of fifteen, which he found in an umbrella stand at the marché aux puces (fleamarket) in Paris. This was the beginning of his large collection that he built up over many years and was later continued by his son. He passed not only his talent for painting on to Walter, but also his passion for collecting.

In 1984, Willem co-founded and chaired the Token Society of Belgium, an organisation dedicated to the study and preservation of Japanese armour, swords, and sword-fittings. He stayed an active member until his passing in 2016.