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Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)

Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu Japanese
Fittings maker Fittings (except menuki) inscribed by Nomura Katsumori Japanese
Fittings maker Menuki inscribed by Seii Japanese
blade, dated 1870; mounting, 19th century
Not on view
In 1876, the Japanese government issued an edict abolishing the wearing of the sword in Japan. Sadakazu is one of the few swordsmiths to continue working after that date. He kept the craft alive by making replicas of ancient blades. The blade of this dagger is made in the style of Umetada Myoju, a swordsmith active in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. The inscription indicates that Sadakazu did the engraving himself. The fittings are by Katsumori, a student of Kanō Natsuo (1829–1898), the last great maker of sword fittings.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)
  • Swordsmith: Blade inscribed by Gassan Sadakazu (Japanese, Setsu (now Osaka), 1834–1918)
  • Fittings maker: Fittings (except menuki) inscribed by Nomura Katsumori (Japanese, active ca. 1870)
  • Fittings maker: Menuki inscribed by Seii (Japanese, active ca. 1870)
  • Date: blade, dated 1870; mounting, 19th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, silver
  • Dimensions: L. 16 1/8 in. (40.9 cm); L. of blade 14 7/16 in. (36.7 cm); L. of cutting edge 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm); L. of knife (kozuka) 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm)
  • Classification: Daggers
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.470
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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Blade for a Dagger (Tantō), Rai Kunitoshi Japanese, Steel, Japanese
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18th century

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