A reddish wood and lacquer bokutō. Late 19th century - image-1 A reddish wood and lacquer bokutō. Late 19th century - image-2

Lot 297 D α

A reddish wood and lacquer bokutō. Late 19th century

Auction 1259 - overview Cologne
10.12.2024, 11:00 - Asian Art
Estimate: 800 € - 1.200 €
Result: 756 € (incl. premium)
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A reddish wood and lacquer bokutō. Late 19th century

Of mamorigatana-type, with bevelled edges. With a waka by Shiyō (1672-1703) in silver on both sides.
Length 48.8 cm

The poem can be translated as follows: "If I kill someone, I must also die. That's why I carry a wooden sword for safety." This waka is also found on the bokutō of the masterless samurai Genko Ōtaka (1672-1703) from the tale of Kanadehon Chūshingura (The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, also known as the 47 Rōnin), who became known by his poet name Shiyō.

Provenance

From the collection of Dr Reinhard Lohrberg (1943–2024), Hanover

Literature

Cf. the same poem on a bokutō used as a yatate in: Robert Fleischel, Yukari Yoshida, Bokutō & Gyotō (sales catalogue), Tokyo 2022, pp. 64