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Blade for a Sword (Katana)

15th century
Not on view
A katana is a sword with a curved blade longer than 60 cm fitted with an uchigatana-style mounting and worn in a waist sash with the cutting edge facing up.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Blade for a Sword (Katana)
  • Date: 15th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Steel
  • Dimensions: L. of balde 34 15/16 in. (88.8 cm); L. of cutting edge 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm); D. of curvature 7/16 in. (1.06 cm)
  • Classification: Sword Blades
  • Credit Line: Bequest of George C. Stone, 1935
  • Object Number: 36.25.1674a–d
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
More Artwork
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Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō), Sukemitsu of Bizen  Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, copper, rayskin, silk, Japanese
Swordsmith Long sword (katana) blade inscribed by Sukemitsu of Bizen
Swordsmith Short sword (wakizashi) blade attributed to Yasumitsu
Fittings maker Set of sword mountings by Iwamoto Konkan
sword (katana) blade, dated 1440; short sword (wakizashi) blade, 15th century; mountings, late 18th century
Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada  Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
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Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana), Naotane Taikei  Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin (samé), silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, Japanese
Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Naotane Taikei
Decorator Engraving on blade attributed to Honjō Yoshitane
Fittings maker Sword guard (tsuba) inscribed by Yukinaka
blade, dated 1839; mounting, 19th century
Koto (箏), Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan  Japanese, Various woods, ivory and tortoiseshell inlays, gold and silver inlays, metalwork, cloth, laquer, paper,, Japanese
Metalwork by Goto Teijo, 9th generation Goto master, Japan
Workshop of Gotō Yūjō
early 17th century

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