Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)

Swordsmith Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei Japanese

Decorator Engraving on blades attributed to Honjō Yoshitane Japanese

Fittings maker Sword guards (Tsuba) inscribed by Yukinaka Japanese

blades, dated 1839; mountings, 19th century

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.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)
Swordsmith: Blades inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo)
Decorator: Engraving on blades attributed to Honjō Yoshitane (Japanese, Edo period, 19th century)
Fittings maker: Sword guards (Tsuba) inscribed by Yukinaka (Japanese, Hagi, active 19th century)
Date: blades, dated 1839; mountings, 19th century
Geography: Hagi, Nagato Province (Yamaguchi Prefecture)
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin, silk, iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi)
Dimensions: L. of sword (katana) 39 1/4 in. (99.8 cm); L. of sword (katana) blade 36 31/32 in. (93.9 cm); L. of sword (katana) blade cutting edge 28 5/8 in. (72.7 cm); D. of sword (katana) blade curvature 1 7/32 in. (3.1 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) 26 3/4 in. (67.9 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) blade 17 27/32 in. (45.3 cm); D. of short sword (wakizashi) blade curvature 9/64 in. (0.36 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: Gift of Brayton Ives and W. T. Walters, 1891
Object Number: 91.2.56, .84
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

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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 — Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana)
Multiple artists/makers
blade, dated 1839; mounting, 19th century

Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi), Naotane Taikei Japanese, Steel, wood, lacquer, rayskin (samé), thread, iron, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, silver, Japanese — Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Multiple artists/makers
blade, dated 1839; mounting, early–mid 19th century

Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (<i>Ken</i>), Steel, Japanese — Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (*Ken*)
Japanese
5th century

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Omori Hidenaga Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, silver, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Omori Hidenaga
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)
Multiple artists/makers
sword (katana) blade, dated 1440; short sword (wakizashi) blade, 15th century; mountings, late 18th century

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