A pair of Bizen daisho swords from the 19th century could make upwards of $200,000 when they auction in a single lot at Bonhams on October 8.
The matched pair of daisho, meaning "large-small", were cast by master maker Nagamitsu and display the blue sheen typical of early examples of Bizen artisanship.
Bizen was an area in the south-eastern part of Okayama prefecture in Japan, and an early centre for swordsmithing.
 The daisho were cast by master swordsmith Nagamitsu |
Jeff Olsen, director of the Japanese department at Bonhams New York, commented: "You simply cannot make steel of this quality anymore. The natural materials were completely exhausted by feudal Japanese swordsmiths. It's very rare to see an early Bizen Nagamitsu daisho like this one on the market"
The most exquisite examples of militaria from the Samurai age are in great demand among collectors.
Many have been awarded national treasure status by the Japanese government. A Sekishu Joyo Katana sold in October 2012 for $134,000 against a $125,000-$150,000 estimate.
The present auction, titled Arts of the Samurai, features a number of other noteworthy swords, including an early Bizen tachi (a long bladed sword used on horseback) by Masazane, a renowned swordsmith active in the Muromachi period (1392-1573).
A collection of 15 suits of armour and an Edo period helmet in the shape of a conch shell will also feature
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