A Ryokai wakizashi in mountsMuromachi period (1333-1573), 16th century
Honzukuri, iorimune, toriizori, chu-gissaki forged in ko-itame hada with a suguha tempered edge with sunagashi and a ko-maru boshi, the machi-okuri tang with three holes and indistinct file marks, obscurely signed Ryokai Kunisane saku, 21 3/4in (54.2cm) long; the 19th-century koshirae comprising a black-lacquer saya fitted with a shakudo-nanako kozuka decorated with a shishi and butterflies in gold and silver takazogan, the tsuka fitted with iron fuchi-gashira decorated with a landscape, and gilt and shakudo menuki formed as roosters and hens, the circular iron tsuba decorated with flowers in gold nunomezogan