Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)

Swordsmith Blade attributed to Momokawa Nagayoshi Japanese

Fittings maker Mounting inscribed by Kanō Natsuo Japanese

blade, mid–late 14th century; mounting, 19th century

Not on view

Natsuo is consdered the last great maker of sword fittings, and this dagger is one of his masterpieces. The lacquer work is by Shibata Zeshin (1801–1891), one of Japan's leading nineteenth-century lacquer artists.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)
Swordsmith: Blade attributed to Momokawa Nagayoshi (Japanese, active early 15th century)
Fittings maker: Mounting inscribed by Kanō Natsuo (Japanese, 1828–1898)
Date: blade, mid–late 14th century; mounting, 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, wood, lacquer, gold, silver, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper
Dimensions: L. 13 7/16 in. (34.2 cm); L. of blade 11 5/16 in. (28.8 cm); L. of cutting edge 8 5/16 in. (21.1 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: Gift of Brayton Ives and W. T. Walters, 1891
Object Number: 91.2.30
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

By Kanō Natsuo

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Kanō Natsuo Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Fittings maker Kanō Natsuo
19th century

Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese — Helmet (*Zukinnari Kabuto*)
Japanese
16th century

Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō), Steel, wood, lacquer, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, silver, copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), Japanese — Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (Tantō)
Japanese
blade, 16th century; mounting, 19th century

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Kanō Natsuo Japanese, Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Fittings maker Inscribed by Kanō Natsuo
Decorator Inscribed by 紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi
mid-19th century

Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese — Armor (*Gusoku*)
Armorer Helmet bowl signed Saotome Ietada
Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
16th and 18th centuries

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