Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)

blade and mounting, 19th century; sword guard, 16th century

Not on view

This mounting is distinguished by its silver-clad scabbard with fine striations. The ornament toward the bottom of the scabbard, realistically modelled in repoussé, represents a cicada. Covered in white ray skin, the hilt is wrapped in a black and white cord with a braided design of four-sectioned lozenge crests. It features grip ornaments in the form of ladybugs. The other metal fittings follow a contrasting combination of gold and shakudō. With its luxurious decoration and bold yet elegant color scheme, this nineteenth-century mounting revives the flamboyant sword fashion of the Momoyama period (1573–1615). To emphasize that reference, it was paired with a sixteenth-century sword guard whose decoration and choice of metals are in perfect harmony with the other elements of the mounting.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Date: blade and mounting, 19th century; sword guard, 16th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, wood, rayskin (same), thread, silver, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold
Dimensions: L. 22 15/16 in. (58.2 cm); L. of blade 19 11/16 in. (50 cm); L. of cutting edge 15 11/16 in. (39.8 cm); D. of curvature 1/2 in. (1.2 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Object Number: 29.100.1378a–c
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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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)
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