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Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)

Swordsmith Long sword (katana) blade inscribed by Sukemitsu of Bizen Japanese
Swordsmith Short sword (wakizashi) blade attributed to Yasumitsu Japanese
Fittings maker Set of sword mountings by Iwamoto Konkan Japanese
sword (katana) blade, dated 1440; short sword (wakizashi) blade, 15th century; mountings, late 18th century
Not on view
This is the only known complete set of daishō mountings 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

Object Information
  • Title: Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō)
  • Swordsmith: Long sword (katana) blade inscribed by Sukemitsu of Bizen (Japanese, Bizen, Muromachi period, active ca. 1440)
  • Swordsmith: Short sword (wakizashi) blade attributed to Yasumitsu (Japanese, Muromachi period, 15th century)
  • Fittings maker: Set of sword mountings by Iwamoto Konkan (Japanese, Edo period, 1744–1801)
  • Date: sword (katana) blade, dated 1440; short sword (wakizashi) blade, 15th century; mountings, late 18th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Steel, wood, lacquer, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, copper, rayskin, silk
  • Dimensions: L. of sword (katana) 34 1/8 in. (86.7 cm); L. of sword (katana) blade 25 1/4 in. (64.1 cm); L. of sword (katana) scabbard 28 1/4 in. (71.8 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) 26 in. (66.0 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) blade 20 3/4 in. (52.7 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) scabbard 19 3/4 in. (50.2 cm); L. of knife (kozuka) for short sword (wakizashi) mounting 8 3/4 in. (22.2 cm)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
  • Object Number: 36.120.417a, b, .418a–c
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana)
Blade inscribed by Sukemitsu of Bizen (Japanese, Bizen, Muromachi period, active ca. 1440)
blade, dated 1440; mounting, late 18th century
Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Blade attributed to Yasumitsu (Japanese, Muromachi period, 15th century)
blade, 15th century; mounting, late 18th 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
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
Helmet (<i>Zukinnari Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, Japanese
Helmet (Zukinnari Kabuto)
Japanese
16th century

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