Signed Tomoo no Tame ni Kore wo TsukuruJapan, dated 1843, Edo period (1615-1868)The blade:Hira-zukuri with iori mune, the hamon is gunome in nioi-deki with little nie, the hada is o-itame.The blade with an inscribed poem to both sides. The tip is iriyamagata-jiri.The nakago is ubu with one mekugi-ana, the tang signed 為伴雄造之 “Tomoo no tame ni kore o tsukuru” [This is made for Tomoo] and dated 癸卯秋 Mizunoto-u aki [Autumn of the year of Mizunoto-u, corresponding to 1843].The mounting:The silver habaki is incised with a kiri mon to one side and a kikyo mon to the other. The gilt-copper kogai and kozuka each decorated in gold and shakudo takazogan with kiri (paulownia) sprays against a nanako ground, the kozuka further with an inscription to the blade. The fuchi, kashira, koiguchi, kojiri, and further mounts all similarly decorated with gold takazogan against a nanako ground. The tsuka and saya are wrapped in silk brocade with floral and foliate scroll.NAGASA 28.5 cm, LENGTH 57.2 cm (the koshirae)Condition: The blade is in good condition with some surface wear, the inscription to the blade somewhat faded due to later polishing, few blisters. The mounts are in good condition with some wear, particularly to gilt, the silk brocade with wear, soiling, and small losses.Provenance: French private collection.It may be suggested that the blade was made for Nagasawa Tomoo 長澤伴雄 (1808-1859) who was a scholar of Japanese classical literature and Waka poetry. He was a Samurai at the Kii Domain, Wakayama. He compiled multi-volume Waka poetry collections. It is likely that the long poems inscribed on both sides of the blade are by him.