RARE DAISHO PAIR OF JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORDS

RARE DAISHO PAIR OF JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORDS
Very rarely encountered, a matched pair of Edo Period katana and wakizashi carried by a high-ranking samurai in the Shogunate. Each sword with matched shakudo fuchi and kashira set with numerous Maru ni Go-san no kiri mon in 5-3 form, all in gold, and embellished with vinework, each leaf likewise wrought in gold. The matching iron tsubas in sukashi style with vinework embellished in gold, and silver habakis with cat scratch motif decoration, the seppa gold on copper. Each saya finished in flecked black lacquer, the wakizashi with kogatana intact, the fine kozuka of silver wrought with two finely-detailed groups of samurai in relief, one men, the other monkeys, who appear to be negotiating the release of human hostages, shown at right. The katana blade with two holes in the tang, one with soft metql plug and signed KUNITSUGU, dating to the latter 17th century. With straight temperline and active grain and an apparent older kizu to the right side. The wakizashi blade mumei, with active temperline and grain and a small kizu to the right shinogiji. As mounted c. 1800. Condition as noted. Overall length of katana 91cm / 35.82?, nagasa 56.7cm / 22.32?. Overall length of wakizashi 56.3cm / 22.16?, nagasa 39.7cm / 15.63? Condition II