An Echizen tanto in lacquer scabbard
Edo period (17th century), attributed to Yasutsugu I, the mounting Meiji period (late 19th century)
Sugata [configuration]: hirazukuri
Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha with rich nie
Horimono [carvings]: shin-no-kurikara of Mikkyo Buddhism (carving of a dragon entwining a vajra-hilted double-edged sword)
Nakago [tang]: katte-sagari file marks, two mekugi-ana, and an iriyamagata tip
Habaki [collar]: Single gilt copper
Nagasa [length of blade]: 11¼in. (28.6cm.) long
Koshirae [mounting]: The brown lacquer scabbard in the form of a tree branch and with metal fittings of a silver snake and copper and other colored metal insects with gilt details overall, the small silver tsuba of bambo with an applied snail, the kozuka of shakudo, gold, and copper in the form of a decayed leaf with a firefly, signed Yanagawa Naotsura (early 19th century) with a kao, the fuchi-gashira of a hornet's nest signed Rakuosai Michiyoshi (late 19th century) with a kao, the whole assembled in the Meiji period in keeping with the high quality of the blade; 18¼in. (46cm.) long

Provenance
From a Private Collection
Acquired in Miami in 1985