Doctor's Sword (Chatō)

Inscribed Yoshiteru Japanese

19th century

Not on view

Carved in the round from a single piece of wood, this doctor’s sword (chatō) features an energetic assemblage of coiled dragons and animals. So-called doctor’s swords were carried by samurai in tea houses as stand-ins for metal swords, which were not allowed inside. Doctors, too, wore them for show in public. Ornate examples such as this one were greatly prized by collectors in Europe and America.

Artwork Details

Title: Doctor's Sword (Chatō)
Maker: Inscribed Yoshiteru (Japanese, active 19th century)
Date: 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Wood, mother-of-pearl, silk
Dimensions: L. 18 in. (45.7 cm); W. 1 3/4 in. (4.5 cm); Wt. 7.2 oz. (204.1 g)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: Gift of Etsuko O. Morris and John H. Morris Jr., 2018
Object Number: 2018.833.22a, b
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

By Yoshiteru

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Hanshan and Shide (寒山拾得図鐔), Yoshiteru Japanese, Brass, gold, silver, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), Japanese — Sword Guard (*Tsuba*) Depicting Hanshan and Shide (寒山拾得図鐔)
Yoshiteru
mid-18th century

Scabbard Cover

Japanese

early 19th century

Dagger (Kindjal) with Sheath, Steel, wood, silver, niello, Caucasian, possibly northern Dagestan — Dagger (Kindjal) with Sheath
Caucasian, possibly northern Dagestan
ca. 1840–50

Dagger (Kindjal) with Scabbard, Steel, wood, silver, niello, Caucasian, possibly Kubachi, Dagestan — Dagger (Kindjal) with Scabbard
Caucasian, possibly Kubachi, Dagestan
dated A.H. 1234/A.D 1818–19

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.