sword; blade; sheath; tsuba; tsuka; shirazaya

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sword; blade; sheath; tsuba; tsuka; shirazaya

Object Type: sword; blade; sheath; tsuba; tsuka; shirazaya
Museum number: 1958,0730.3.a-d
Description: a) Katana (long sword) blade. Made of steel. Signed and dated. Stored in wooden storage sheath. b) Saya (sword sheath). Chrysanthemum pattern. Made of makie lacquered wood, gilded copper, braid (silk) and silver. Signed. c) Tsuka (hilt). Bird on plum tree and pines in landscape. Made of wood, skin (ray), lacquered thread, gilded copper and silver; bound with whale's beard. Signed. d) Tsuba (sword guard). Shrine and pine trees, and seascape. Made of gold overlaid shibuichi; also with silver. Signed and dated.
Producer name: Made by: Kawachi-no-kami Sukesada 河内守祐定; Made by: Nakagawa Issho (koshirae)
Cultures/periods: Eisho Era; Meiji Era
Production date: 1520; 19thC (late)
Production place: Made in: Bizen (historic - kuni); Made in: Tokyo-to
Materials: steel; wood; lacquer; copper; silk; gold; silver; ray skin; hair; shibuichi
Technique: maki-e; gilded; braided; lacquered; overlaid
Dimensions: Length: 87 centimetres (c. with hilt)
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Smith et al 1990 The 'uchigatana'-type mounting was carried thrust through the belt with the cutting edge of the sword uppermost. This mount was made as a presentation piece, with a fine-quality gold 'makie' chrysanthemum pattern over the scabbard. The blade is by Sukesuda of Bizen (see also no. 73) and dated equivalent to AD 1520.
Bibliographic references: Smith et al 1990 / Japanese Art: Masterpieces in the British Museum (79); Tokyo National Museum 1987 / Daiei Hakubutsukan shozo Nihon-Chugoku bijutsu meihin ten (69)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: landscape; shrine (tsuba); bird; tree/bush; flower
Acquisition name: Bequeathed by: Robert Wylie Lloyd
Acquisition date: 1958
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1958,0730.3.a-d

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