* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Bizen Narie (Osafune Narie)
成家
Description
Lineage
Narie was a swordsmith active in Osafune, Bizen Province (present-day Osafune-chō, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture), during the Nanboku-chō period. It is said that he descended from the lineage of Osafune Kagehide, who is credited with forging "Kuronbo-giri," a sword known as one of the Beloved Swords of Date Masamune, though this is not clear.
School
Within the Osafune school, he is said to have belonged to the branch known as Kogaeshi Bizen ("small reverse Bizen"). Kogaeshi Bizen is known as a group of Nanboku-chō-period Osafune craftsmen who developed their own distinctive style, separate from that of the mainline Kanemitsu, Chōgi and others.
Style
Gunome and chōji-midare patterns are used extensively, and works with nioi-deki are said to be a characteristic feature. He cut his signatures as "Bishū Osafune Narie" or "Bishū Osafune-jū Narie," among others.
Representative Work
As a representative work, a tachi signed "Bishū Osafune-jū Narie" has been designated an Important Cultural Property, and its imposing form, with a blade length of 78.8 cm, is passed down to the present day.
Evaluation
Among the Kogaeshi Bizen group, which tends to be overshadowed by the mainline Osafune smiths, Narie is positioned as a craftsman who demonstrated solid skill, as shown by his surviving designated cultural property.
Famous Works
- Tachi, signed Bishū Osafune-jū Bizen Narie (Important Cultural Property)