katana; blade; sword-sheath; hilt; fuchi-kashira; menuki; tsuba; shirazaya

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katana; blade; sword-sheath; hilt; fuchi-kashira; menuki; tsuba; shirazaya

Object Type: katana; blade; sword-sheath; hilt; fuchi-kashira; menuki; tsuba; shirazaya
Museum number: 1958,0730.27.a-d
Description: a) Katana (long sword) blade. Made of steel. Signed and inscribed. Stored in wooden storage sheath. b) Tachi scabbard (saya). Vermilion-lacquered and carved in simulation of tsuishu (alternative layers of coloured lacquer); lightly gilded silver fittings with paulownia carved in katakiri bori (oblique chisel work). Made of wood with braided textile. c) Hilt, with fuchi-kashira and menuki. Hilt: made of wood and ray-skin. Menuki: in form of bats. Fuchi-kashira: lightly gilded silver with paulownia carved in katakiri bori (oblique chisel work). d) Tsuba (mokko-shaped). Paulownia carved in katakiri bori (oblique chisel work). Made of lightly gilded silver.
Producer name
Cultures/periods
Production date: 1867 (second month)
Production place: Made in: Edo
Materials: steel; cinnabar; lacquer; wood; gold; silver; textile; ray skin
Technique: lacquered; carved; gilded; braided
Dimensions: Length: 74.70 centimetres (cutting edge); Curvature: 1.20 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Harris 2005 This blade is 'shinogi zukuri' and has a shallow curve with a medium 'kissaki'. There are round-ended 'bohi' on both sides of the blade. The tang has two holes, one of which is a 'shinobi ana'. The file marks are 'kiri'. The grain is almost indiscernible, closely packed 'koitame'. The 'hamon' is extravagant 'gunome choji' in 'nioi' and has many small 'ashi'. The 'boshi' is 'mi dare komi'. The 'tachi' mounting is of vermilion-lacquered wood carved in simulation of 'tsuishu' lacquerwork. All metal fittings are of lightly gilded silver with paulownia carved in 'katakiri bori' (oblique chisel work). The 'menuki' are in the form of bats. The whole mounting has been artificially distressed to give an appearance of age, which was presumably done to make it more appealing for export.
Bibliographic references
Location: Not on display
Subjects
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1958
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1958,0730.27.a-d

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