hilt;
menuki
- Museum number
- 1958,0730.58.d
- Description
-
Hilt; menuki. Part of mounting for tanto. Hilt: silver fittings carved with chrysanthemums; made of lacquered wood and copper. Menuki: silver dragonflies. Signed.
- Production date
- 19thC(late)
- $Inscriptions
-
- Curator's comments
- Harris 2005
This blade is 'hira zukuri'. The unmodified tang has one hole and the file marks are shallow 'sujigai'. The tang tip is 'kurijiri'. There is a 'koshihi' on the 'omote' and 'gomabashi' on the 'ura'. The grain is prominent 'itame'. The 'hamon' is 'suguha' and is comprised of 'konie' with a tight 'nioiguchi'. The 'boshi' is somewhat pointed 'komaru' with 'haki' on the return.
Of the large number of recorded smiths who signed the name 'Sukesada', three used signatures similar to that on this blade during the Eiroku era (1558-70): Gembei, Tohei and Shinjuro. In this case the chisel marks in the signature identify it as the work of Shinjuro. This short 'tanto' blade, with its sturdily shaped tang, has the thick-bodied triangular cross-section of a 'yoroi doshi' (literally 'armour piercer', a thick-bladed 'hira zukuri' dagger).
The scabbard of the mounting is lacquered and carved in simulation of wood grain. The 'menuki' are silver in the form of dragonflies, and there are silver pieces in the form of a wasp and a praying mantis applied to the scabbard. The other metal fittings are silver, carved with chrysanthemums and signed 'Bishu Uguisudani ju Katsuaki kore (o) tsukuru' (made by Katsuaki, resident of Uguisudani in Owari Province). Hasegawa Katsuaki (1837-1913) was a specialist sword-fittings maker who was retained by the Owari Tokugawa clan during the Edo period. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868 he made smoking pipes and other metal accessories.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1958
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 1958,0730.58.d
