Single-Owner Collections

A fine Japanese sankaku-yari or triangular spearhead, probably late 15th century, with triangular-section head, head length 17.5cm, one face with fullered groove and marked with a bonji, the signed tang with double hole piercings, with later wood mounts, overall length 40cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased from John Harding, July 1962, for £8. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 172, figure 35. Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Muramasa and his research showed Muramasa was probably part of the Sengo school of Kuwana in Ise province and probably second generation in the family line.

A fine Japanese hira-sankaku yari, 16th century, the long triangular-section blade with deep cut and chiselled flame decoration, picked out with red lacquer, blade length 66.5cm, the unsigned tang with single hole piercing, overall length 86cm, with black lacquered and copper mounted scabbard, decorated with raised stylized fish and dragons. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased from John Harding, 21st June 1962, for £2. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 166, figure 32. Roald Knutsen noted that this was possibly used at one time as a sword. He also noted that the flame groove suggests a samurai owner who followed the Mikkyo, either Shugendo or Shingon, as flames represent Fudomyo-o.

A Japanese tanto, Edo period, with typical curved blade, blade length 32cm, oval steel tsuba with pierced decoration, the unsigned tang with single hole piercing, and leather tape-bound fishskin grip, with fine cast gilt bronze fuchi, koshira and hidden menuki fittings, with black lacquer-finished wood scabbard with similar decorative mount (lacking kogatana). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).

A unusual and scarce Japanese tanto, possibly a kama-tanto, with unusual concave-form blade with blunt tip and single hole piercing, blade length 23cm, the tang with stamped signature and single hole piercing, with black lacquer-finished scabbard (blade lacking grip, scabbard lacking kogatana and mounts). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted this as a very odd item. It is possible that it was a martial arts training weapon with sickle form and blunted tip.

An extremely rare Japanese nagasaki, early Edo period, with extremely long and impressive single-edged blade and kaiseki tip, blade length 111.5cm, plain oval steel tsuba and long tang with double hole piercings, tang length 54cm, the moulded spiral grip-form handle finished in black lacquer with scrolling gilt painted decoration and copper-finish collar mount and pommel cap, with similarly finished scabbard. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: photographed with Patricia Knutsen in ‘Japanese Spears: Polearms and Their Uses in Old Japan’ by Roald & Patricia Knutsen, Global Oriental: 2004, plate 2.

A fine and extremely rare Japanese naginata by Tanshu Kunimitsu, Hojoji school, third quarter 14th century, the fine curved single edged blade with even cloud-like hamon and engraved to both faces with two bonji giving the protectorship of Marishi-Ten to the warrior holding it in war, blade length 36cm, the tang finely signed in gold and later altered for use as a sidearm, with single hole piercing and mounted in a shirazaya, overall length 51cm, with appraisal certificate obtained in the 1960s from Japan. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased from the late David Tudor-Williams, 16th July 1961, for £30, and thought to have been obtained by him from the Miki-Han (1000-year-old house), as sold by them in 1876. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 118, figure 8. Roald Knutsen noted that there was good reason to believe that this blade may once have belonged to a ranking senior retainer family of the Miki- Ke in present day Hyogo-ken and then sold in 1876. Marishi -Ten was a significant Buddhist deity in Japan, who was revered by warriors for protection and strength during war.

An unusual and rare Japanese fukuro-yari, probably mid-Edo period, the leaf shaped blade finely engraved and cut to one side with a figure of Fudo Myo-o standing defending Buddha’s law amid flames, the opposite side with signature among flames rising from a fire pit, with socket fitting and mounted on a mother-of-pearl or abalone inlaid shaft with lacquered decoration, fitted with an unusual hook projection, blade length 30cm, overall length 185cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased Swap Shop, Croydon, 20th January 1962, for £2 5s. Note: probably used for ceremonial or processional use. Illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 192, figure 45. Roald Knutson identified the signature as Echizen-No-Ju Yoshishige and noted that the smith’s family name is Takahashi and he originally worked at Harima. He also noted that the use of the hook is unclear.

A fine Japanese magari-yari, Edo period, with stylistic trident (bull’s horn) head, head length 16.5cm, the signed tang supported on a predominantly ebonized wood shaft, the part-textured ring-turned and red and gilt lacquer-decorated upper section with fine brass metal collars and fittings and iron hirumaki, width 9.5cm, overall length 213cm, the tip of one of the side blades is 2mm further from the centre blade than the other one. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); purchased Fairclough, January 1961, for £5 10s. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, plate 13. Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Yamashiro No Kami Fujiwara No Hyak’Koku Nyudo Kazutora, and noted that this is the later signature of Kunishige of Musashi province, mid-18th century.

A Japanese fukuro-yari, Edo period, with fullered triangular-section head, head length 25cm, and bifurcated strengthening arms or straps, mounted on a hardwood shaft with steel and rattan bindings and ebonized-finished terminal, overall length 186.5cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted that this could be a matched pair with Lot 4030. A similar head is illustrated in ‘Japanese Spears: Polearms and Their Uses in Old Japan’ by Roald & Patricia Knutsen, Global Oriental: 2004, figure 30, illustration G.

A Japanese fukuro-yari, Edo period, with fullered triangular-section head, head length 25cm, and bifurcated strengthening arms or straps, mounted on a hardwood shaft with steel and rattan bindings and ebonized terminal, overall length 186.5cm (some break down in bindings and losses). Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted that this could be a matched pair with Lot 4029. A similar head is illustrated in ‘Japanese Spears: Polearms and Their Uses in Old Japan’ by Roald & Patricia Knutsen, Global Oriental: 2004, figure 30, illustration G.

A Japanese fukuro-yari, Edo period, with socketed heavy gauge diamond-section head, head length 19.5cm, mounted on a hardwood shaft with hadome steel mount of S-shaped hooked form with hirumaki terminal, overall length 236cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: a similar head is illustrated in ‘Japanese Spears: Polearms and Their Uses in Old Japan’ by Roald & Patricia Knutsen, Global Oriental: 2004, figure 30, illustration E.

A fine Japanese fukuro-yari, Edo period, with socketed heavy gauge diamond-section head, head length 19.5cm, the socket signed to the outer face, mounted on a part-copper and cord-bound shaft with all-over crushed abalone shell and black lacquer composite-finished decoration and hirumaki terminal, overall length 217cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 188. Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Kishu No Ju Naomichi. In his description, Roald says, ‘Kishu No Ju Naomichi was a swordsmith, also known as Monjushiro. He lived at Joruri-Zaka and worked between 1850 and 1865’.

A Japanese su-yari, Edo period, with triangular-section steel head, head length 14cm, mounted on a hardwood shaft with copper collar mounts dividing a two-section moulded ribbed red lacquered grip over a hardwood body with hirumaki of pierced conical form, overall length 220cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).

A Japanese horseman’s yari, Edo period, with almost square-section steel head, head length 9cm, mounted on a hardwood shaft with moulded ribbed upper grip section, finished in black lacquer with copper and woven bindings, overall length 269cm (lacking hirumaki terminal), with textured red lacquer-finished rectangular saya. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025); ex H. Russell Robinson Collection 1958, purchased for £3. Note: illustrated in ‘Japanese Polearms’ by Roald M. Knutsen, The Holland Press, London: 1963, page 168 plate 33. We have been unable to remove the head from the shaft to confirm the tang is signed, but Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Yamamoto Tada-Aki, not recorded but probably mid-19th century.

A Japanese su-yari, Edo period, with triangular-section steel head, head length 11.5cm, the face edge with narrow fuller, picked out with red lacquer, mounted on a full-length lacquered ribbed shaft with banded copper collars, decorated with trailing floral designs, and hirumaki terminal, overall length 218cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).

A Japanese su-yari, Edo period, with triangular-section steel head, head length 13cm, mounted on a hardwood shaft, the upper half section with bands of crushed abalone shell and lacquer decoration, with hirumaki terminal, overall length 214cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted: ‘Unsigned, bold but ordinary.’

A Japanese su-yari, probably Edo period, with fine narrow-section triangular steel head, head length 16cm, mounted on a hardwood shaft, the upper grip section with ribbed lacquer finish, shaped openwork collar, part-copper and cord binding and hirumaki terminal, overall length 216cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen noted: ‘Possibly the work of Sengo, early 16th century.’

A Japanese su-yari, Edo period, with fine diamond-section head, head length 10.5cm, the signed tang with single hole piercing, mounted on a hardwood shaft, the upper half section with lacquered ribbed grip with copper and cord bindings, overall length 156cm. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025). Note: Roald Knutsen identified the signature as Fujiwara-No-Hisayuki, also known as Tatebana Yenryushi, and noted that this was a horseman’s yari, probably circa 1860.

A fine Japanese naginata, Edo period, the curved single-edged blade with fine even hamon, blade length 42cm, fine deep-grooved and formed horimono, curved part-length shinogi and fine ko-shinogi tip, fitted to a long facet-formed hardwood shaft, the upper grip section veneered in abalone shell and mounted with shaped openwork copper collars and mounts and a fine cast bronze openwork hirumaki terminal, overall length 245cm, the blade with wood-boarded lacquered and gilt-embellished scabbard with trailing foliate and single-flowerhead decoration. Provenance: the collection of the late Roald Knutsen (1933-2025).