Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)

Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei Japanese
 Engraving on blades attributed to Honjō Yoshitane Japanese
 Sword guards (Tsuba) inscribed by Yukinaka Japanese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 378

Although both blades are by Naotane, that of the long sword (katana) is made in the Bizen style, while that of the short sword (wakizashi) is made in the Sōshū style. The engraving on both is attributed to Yoshitane, who decorated many of Naotane's blades.

Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese

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Side one

Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese
Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese
Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese
Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese
Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese

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