JAPAN - Katana, late Edo period, the saya in red and black negoro-nuri lacquered wood, fitted with a worn koiguchi, a black lacquered wood kuri-gata lacking sageo, and incomplete with its kojiri. The tsuka handle in yellow-brown ito weave, dishevelled and partially detached, on a yellowed white shagreen background, includes a pair of menuki in the shape of warrior deities. The metal kashira decorated with a rooster and flowers enhanced with gold matches the grey fuchi also decorated with a rooster and chicks on a nanako background. The tsuba mokko-gata in shibuichi with openwork maru bori decoration of paulownia flowers. The blade, long and tapering, with an iori mune back, has several missing edges due to wear and numerous marks along its length, signed "岩井鬼晋麿源正俊" (Iwai Kishinmaro Minamoto Masatoshi). L. 24.5 cm (tsuka) L. 72 cm (blade) L. 75.4 cm (saya) L. 101 cm (total length of katana excluding saya) Condition: The tsuba is not very well attached, the blade shows multiple impact marks and three deep notches, as well as dirt. The tsuka braiding is badly worn, the saya shows some wear and is incomplete with its kojiri. Provenance: Former collection of Mr. Huu Pham (Galerie Potterat)