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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

Object Information
  • 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

More Artwork
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Blade and Mounting for a Sword (Katana)
Blade inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo)
blade, dated 1839; mounting, 19th century
Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Blade inscribed by Naotane Taikei (Japanese, Yamagata 1778–1857 Edo)
blade, dated 1839; mounting, early–mid 19th century
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
Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, copper, Japanese
Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Japanese
late 14th–early 15th century
Stirrup, Iron, gold, silver, Mongolian or Tibetan
Stirrup
Mongolian or Tibetan
16th–17th century

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