tachi; blade

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Object Type: tachi; blade
Museum number: 1979,0703.1
Description: Sword blade (tachi). Shortened. Made of steel. Signed.
Producer name
Cultures/periods
Production date: 1394-1428
Production place: Made in: Bizen (kuni)
Materials
Dimensions: Length: 89.90 centimetres
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Smith et al 1990 Morokage was one of the group of smiths, including Chikakage and Morikage, who moved from Omiya in Kyoto to Osafune in the fourteenth century. This 'tachi' sword is of typical long and slender Osafune shape of the Oei era (1394-1428), with a mixed 'hamon' of clove pattern and 'gunome'.; Harris 2005 Slightly shortened 'tachi' signed 'Bishu Osafune Moro[kage]' with the last character of the inscription missing. The deep curve and shape found in early Kamakura-period work is also a characteristic of blades of the Oei era (1394-1428; see also no. 2). The 'hada' has a fine 'itame' with 'mokume' and vivid 'utsuri'. The 'hamon' is 'gunome choji' with many 'ashi' and 'yo'.
Bibliographic references: Smith et al 1990 / Japanese Art: Masterpieces in the British Museum (67); Tokyo National Museum 1987 / Daiei Hakubutsukan shozo Nihon-Chugoku bijutsu meihin ten (64); Harris 2004 / Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum (fig. 10, cf. 2)
Location: Not on display
Subjects
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1979
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1979,0703.1

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