Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana)

Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Sukemitsu of Bizen Japanese

Fittings maker Mounting by Iwamoto Konkan Japanese

blade, dated 1440; mounting, late 18th century

Not on view

This is the only known complete set of daishō mountings (paired with 36.120.418a–c) by Iwamoto Konkan, one of the most famous makers of sword fittings in the eighteenth century. The artist's inscription identifies the patron as Iwata Takanori and the design as the Six Tama Rivers.

Artwork Details

Title: Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana)
Swordsmith: Blade inscribed by Sukemitsu of Bizen (Japanese, Bizen, Muromachi period, active ca. 1440)
Fittings maker: Mounting by Iwamoto Konkan (Japanese, Edo period, 1744–1801)
Date: blade, dated 1440; mounting, late 18th century
Geography: Okayama Prefecture
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, wood, lacquer, ray skin (samé), thread, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi)
Dimensions: L. 36 1/2 in. (92.7 cm); L. of blade 30 11/16 in. (77.9 cm); L of cutting edge 24 13/16 in. (63.1 cm); D. of curvature 11/16 in. (1.8 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
Object Number: 36.120.417a, b
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

By Sukemitsu of Bizen

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi), Yasumitsu Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, ray skin (samé); thread, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), Japanese — Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Swordsmith Blade attributed to Yasumitsu
Fittings maker Mounting by Iwamoto Konkan
blade, 15th century; mounting, late 18th century

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 — Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)
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

Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō), Morimitsu Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, silver, Japanese — Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)
Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Morimitsu
blade, dated 1404; mounting, mid–late 19th century

Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi), Yokoyama Kōzukedaijō Sukesada Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, ray skin (samé), thread, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), iron, Japanese — Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Yokoyama Kōzukedaijō Sukesada
Fittings maker Fittings inscribed by 乙柳軒政信 Otsuryūken Masanobu
blade, late 17th century; mounting, 19th century

Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi), Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin (samé), thread, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), silver, copper, iron, Japanese — Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Japanese
blade, 17th century; mounting, 19th century

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