Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)

blade, 18th century; mounting, late 18th–early 19th century

Not on view

A wakizashi is a short sword with a blade between 30 and 60 cm long, usually worn in tandem with a full-length sword (katana). Wakizashi were fashionable in the Muromachi period (1392–1573) and later.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Date: blade, 18th century; mounting, late 18th–early 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin (samé), leather, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), iron, gold
Dimensions: L. 22 7/8 in. (58.1 cm); L. of blade 19 9/16 in. (49.7 cm); L. of cutting edge 15 7/16 in. (36.7 cm); D. of curvature 1/4 in. (0.6 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Object Number: 91.1.886
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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