ticketsMember | Make a donation

Blade for a Sword (Katana)

Swordsmith Blade inscribed by Masazane Japanese
dated 1526
Not on view
Masazane was a swordsmith active in the late Muromachi period in Ise (in present-day Mie prefecture). He was one of the most important swordsmiths of the Sengo Muramasa School. His best known work is a spear, the so-called Tonbogiri (dragonfly cutter), one of three famous spears, each of which was made by a renowned swordsmith.
This sword has a highly distinctive steel surface, made in the ayasugihada (concentrically curved grain) pattern. Blades with the ayasugihada pattern have been the trademark of the celebrated Gasan School of swordsmiths since the fourteenth century. This Masazane sword is the only known example of a blade with the ayasugihada pattern made by a swordsmith outside of the Gasan School. It is thus an important example of the work of Masazane and of the influence of the Gasan School on other swordsmiths. The sword is in perfect condition, is signed and dated, and has an extremely rare grain pattern, a combination of important qualities seldom found in a single sword. The tang is inscribed on the front, FUJIWARA MASAZANE SAKU (Masazane made this), and on the reverse, DAIEI ROKUNEN HACHIGATSU JŪNINICHI (August 12, 1526).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Blade for a Sword (Katana)
  • Swordsmith: Blade inscribed by Masazane (Japanese, Ise, documented 1515–26)
  • Date: dated 1526
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Steel
  • Dimensions: L. 36 1/8 in. (91.8 cm); L. of blade edge 29 9/16 in. (75.1 cm); D. of curvature 3/32 in. (2.4 cm)
  • Classification: Swords
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Gift, 2001
  • Object Number: 2001.574
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Saber, Steel, gold, fish skin, wood, Turkish, probably Istanbul
Saber
Turkish, probably Istanbul
1522–66
Short Sword (Yatagan) from the Court of Süleyman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–66), Ahmed Tekelü possibly Iranian, Steel, gold, ivory (walrus), silver, turquoise, pearls, rubies, Turkish, Istanbul
Short Sword (Yatagan) from the Court of Süleyman the Magnificent (reigned 1520–66)
Ahmed Tekelü
ca. 1525–30
Turban Helmet, Steel, gold, silver, Iranian
Turban Helmet
Iranian
late 15th century
Helmet, Steel, iron, gold, silver, copper alloy, Turkish, probably Istanbul
Helmet
Turkish, probably Istanbul
ca. 1560
Set of Sword Fittings (Mitokoromono), Gotō Sōjō Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, Japanese
Set of Sword Fittings (Mitokoromono)
Gotō Sōjō
late 15th–early 16th century

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.