グリ彫金具脇指拵 Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)

blade, 17th century; mounting, 19th century

Not on view

This mounting is distinguished by its fittings made of multiple alternating layers of copper-gold alloy (shakudō) and dark red copper (hiirodō), which are carved in a spiral manner to reveal the layers. This technique, referred to as guribori, has its roots in lacquerwork. Swords mounted with a matching set of guribori fittings are rare. Covering the scabbard is a type of ray skin whose nodules resemble plum blossoms (Japanese: kairagi). It has been lacquered black and then polished to reveal parts of its texture. The blade is unsigned, but can be attributed to an Owari-Seki (尾張関) swordsmith from the early Edo period (17th century).

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: グリ彫金具脇指拵 Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Bladesmith: 尾張関 Owari-Seki (Japanese, active 17th century)
Date: blade, 17th century; mounting, 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, wood, lacquer, ray skin (same), baleen, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper (hiirodō)
Dimensions: L. 24 3/4 in. (62.9 cm); L. of blade 17 1/4 in. (43.9 cm); L. of cutting edge 12 1/2(31.8 cm); D. of curvature 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); L. of kozuka 8 in. (20.3 cm); L. of kogai 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
Object Number: 36.120.423a–d
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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