Bonhams to Offer Exceptional Japanese Swords from the Peter Yorke Collection

The online sale features rare swords from one of the most significant private Japanese sword collections assembled in Britain, including a Masamune Lineage wakizashi dated 1346

London, UK — September 2026 — Bonhams will present Japanese Swords: The Peter Yorke Collection, one of the most significant private collections of Japanese swords assembled in Britain. The online sale runs from October 30 to November 11, with viewing by appointment at Bonhams New Bond Street in London.

The collection was assembled over decades by Peter Yorke (1949-2023), widely regarded as the leading Japanese sword dealer in the United Kingdom. Yorke began dealing in antique arms in the late 1960s and established himself as one of the foremost authorities on Japanese swords in Britain, building his knowledge through extensive travel and more than five decades of scholarship. Collectors, dealers, and institutions from the United States, Europe, and Asia regularly sought his expertise, and his influence helped shape the British market for Japanese swords.

Beyond his commercial success, Yorke was admired for his generosity and integrity, mentoring emerging dealers and collectors and freely sharing his knowledge throughout his career.

Lazarus Halstead, Head of Chinese Art and Asian Art at Bonhams, said of the collection: “Peter Yorke was a prominent figure in the field of Japanese swords, whose expertise, dedication and passion helped shape the market in Britain and beyond for more than half a century. This collection reflects not only his exceptional eye for quality and historical significance, but also a lifetime devoted to the study and appreciation of the Japanese sword. We are honoured to present these works, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from one of the most important and respected collections assembled in the UK.”

Highlights of the sale include:

Swords and Blades

The top lot is a Masamune Lineage Fine and Large Sosha Wakizashi in Superb Mounts, dating to the Nanbokucho era (1333-1392) and dated 1346, estimated at £15,000-25,000. A Bizen Tanto in Superb Mounts with Ichijo-School Fittings from the Muromachi period (1333-1573), dated 1558, carries an estimate of £10,000-15,000. Also offered is a Musashi Tanto in Fine Mounts by Kurihara Kenji Nobuhide (1815-1880), from the Edo period (1615-1868) and dated 1862, estimated at £10,000-15,000.

For catalogues and bidding information, visit Bonhams.

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