Walter A. Compton - 15 years on

[Justin]

I was looking through my Compton catalogues this morning (thanks again Pete) and noticed that today is the 15th anniversary of the first auction in New York.

 

What an amazing collection he accumulated.

 

It really like the depth and breadth of his collection ........ beautiful masterpieces mixed with utilitarian swords that even I can afford.

 

The highest priced item was Fukuoka Ichimonji Tachi (US$418,000).

 

Although this is a huge price, does anyone know the highest price paid at auction for a Japanese Sword?

 

Was anyone on the board lucky enough to pick up any items from the Compton auctions?

 

Also, does anyone know what happened to the high-level pieces - did these get snapped up by museums and institutions or did most of them go to private collectors?

[nagamaki - Franco]

IF not mistaken, there was a fairly extensive article written up with lots of tidbits regarding the auction details, it was published, perhaps, in the JSS/US, if memory serves . Occasionally an item or two will come up for sale, http://www.nihonto.us/enju%20nobukatsu.htm .

[Sergio Bastos]

Hi Justin,

this is a fuchi/kashira from the Compton collection!!!

http://www.nihonto.us/COMPTON%20FUCHI-% ... 20EIHO.htm

[Pete Klein]

Those are from cat. #2, #178. I have them on consignment with Mr. Quirt. Pictures really can't do them justice unfortunately. The carving and detail require a loupe to appreciate. Dr. Compton had an innate sense of taste of the highest caliber.

[Darcy]

Most expensive sword ever at auction was a Kiyomaro I believe. These are only a fraction of the cost of some blades in private transactions though.

[Justin]

They are fantastic Pete. I especially like the detail on the kashira. If I only had the money!

 

Darcy - any idea on the price paid for the Kiyomaro?

[w.y.chan]

There was a Kiyomaro signed "Yamaura Tamaki Masayuki" his early mei, that was sold for $417,400 at Sotherby plus commision usually 10% on top of final bid. That sword was once owned by Field Marshall Festing.

[stackinnutts]

On 4/7/2007 at 4:58 PM, Darcy said:

Most expensive sword ever at auction was a Kiyomaro I believe. These are only a fraction of the cost of some blades in private transactions though.

Darcy, what are some of the known transactions? Have any knowledge of them? 

[nulldevice]

24 minutes ago, stackinnutts said:

Darcy, what are some of the known transactions? Have any knowledge of them? 

Unfortunately the Darcy you’re quoting passed away in recent years 

 

However there are other members here who will probably be able to answer your question about top blades at auction. 
 

One such blade was the Mikazuki Kanemitsu from the Paul Davidson collection that was auctioned off this year. 
 

More info on that can be found here: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection?lotFilter=AllLots

[stackinnutts]

1 hour ago, nulldevice said:

Unfortunately the Darcy you’re quoting passed away in recent years 

 

However there are other members here who will probably be able to answer your question about top blades at auction. 
 

One such blade was the Mikazuki Kanemitsu from the Paul Davidson collection that was auctioned off this year. 
 

More info on that can be found here: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection?lotFilter=AllLots

Oh no! Sorry to hear that… thanks for chiming in on the post. 

[stackinnutts]

1 hour ago, nulldevice said:

Unfortunately the Darcy you’re quoting passed away in recent years 

 

However there are other members here who will probably be able to answer your question about top blades at auction. 
 

One such blade was the Mikazuki Kanemitsu from the Paul Davidson collection that was auctioned off this year. 
 

More info on that can be found here: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection?lotFilter=AllLots

Any idea what this sword ended up selling for?

[PNSSHOGUN]

From memory it sold privately for a number in the hundreds of thousands. 

[stackinnutts]

8 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

From memory it sold privately for a number in the hundreds of thousands. 

Thanks! 

[Hoshi]

Hi, 

 

I can help. The Mikazuki Kanemitsu sold for over 1.5M$, with the final amount unknown. It was purchased by the wonderful Nagoya Museum "Token World". 

 

Not bad, given that it was found in a restaurant in Florida as a wall-hanger. 

 

In general, swords of this calibre do not make it to the open market. In the private market, however, such transactions (and above) are not uncommon. 

 

Best, 

 

Hoshi 

[stackinnutts]

27 minutes ago, Hoshi said:

Hi, 

 

I can help. The Mikazuki Kanemitsu sold for over 1.5M$, with the final amount unknown. It was purchased by the wonderful Nagoya Museum "Token World". 

 

Not bad, given that it was found in a restaurant in Florida as a wall-hanger. 

 

In general, swords of this calibre do not make it to the open market. In the private market, however, such transactions (and above) are not uncommon. 

 

Best, 

 

Hoshi 

Amazing! 

[Lewis B]

1 hour ago, Hoshi said:

Hi, 

 

I can help. The Mikazuki Kanemitsu sold for over 1.5M$, with the final amount unknown. It was purchased by the wonderful Nagoya Museum "Token World". 

 

Not bad, given that it was found in a restaurant in Florida as a wall-hanger. 

 

In general, swords of this calibre do not make it to the open market. In the private market, however, such transactions (and above) are not uncommon. 

 

Best, 

 

Hoshi 

I'm eating in the wrong restaurants.

[stackinnutts]

4 hours ago, Lewis B said:

I'm eating in the wrong restaurants.

You and me both!

[Gakusee]

5 hours ago, Lewis B said:

I'm eating in the wrong restaurants.

This however happened well before you (and we) started eating the nihonto soup. We might regale ourselves with such tales but these treasures 99% of the time used to be found in the US, not in Europe, and also that was some good 20-40 years ago. 
Good ol’ days as they say. 
 

So we might try Michelin starred restaurants and what not but chances are very slim. …Mind you there is a restaurateur in London who puts samurai armour in his restaurants….But they were not acquired cheaply 

[Sukaira]

Aoi has a Kotetsu for around $390k right now if you have some cash to burn: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-nagasone-okisato-nyudo-kotetsu-with-saidan-mei45th-nbthk-juyo-token/

[nulldevice]

51 minutes ago, Sukaira said:

Aoi has a Kotetsu for around $390k right now if you have some cash to burn: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-nagasone-okisato-nyudo-kotetsu-with-saidan-mei45th-nbthk-juyo-token/

I saw that blade in person last week. 

 

Very nice, very tight. Kotetsu personally isn't for me, but they let offered to let us see it even though they knew I was mainly looking at earlier koto blades. 

[stackinnutts]

On 11/4/2025 at 4:52 PM, Gakusee said:

This however happened well before you (and we) started eating the nihonto soup. We might regale ourselves with such tales but these treasures 99% of the time used to be found in the US, not in Europe, and also that was some good 20-40 years ago. 
Good ol’ days as they say. 
 

So we might try Michelin starred restaurants and what not but chances are very slim. …Mind you there is a restaurateur in London who puts samurai armour in his restaurants….But they were not acquired cheaply 

Do you feel that those days are long gone and that there are no great masterpieces left to be rediscovered in the attic ( as it were) per se..???

[stackinnutts]

On 11/4/2025 at 5:33 PM, Sukaira said:

Aoi has a Kotetsu for around $390k right now if you have some cash to burn: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-nagasone-okisato-nyudo-kotetsu-with-saidan-mei45th-nbthk-juyo-token/

Not sure if that’s a way I’d want to ‘burn’ $390k…🤪🤪