tachi; blade; shirazaya; sword-sheath

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tachi; blade; shirazaya; sword-sheath

Object Type: tachi; blade; shirazaya; sword-sheath
Museum number: 1979,0703.2
Description: Sword blade (tachi); shirazaya. Blade: shortened; made of steel; signed. Shirazaya: made of wood; inscribed.
Producer name
Cultures/periods
Production date: 1333-1392 (blade)
Production place: Made in: Bizen (kuni) (blade)
Materials: steel; wood
Dimensions: Length: 69.70 centimetres (blade)
$Inscriptions
Curator's comments: Smith et al 1990 The continuous straight utsuri shadow along the blade and the deep sloping clove-pattern 'hamon' are characteristics of both the Osafune and Aoe schools in the Nambokucho period. Many swords of this period were well in excess of 1 m in length, and have accordingly lost their inscriptions when cut shorter in more recent times.; Harris 2005 Greatly shortened 'tachi' with the broad shape, even curve and extended 'kissaki' typical of the Nambokucho period. The blade has 'itame' with 'komokume hada' and vivid 'utsuri' with 'sumihada' in places. The 'hamon' is 'saka gunome choji' in 'nioi' with deep 'ashi'. Although this blade is attributable to Motoshige of Bizen Province, any original signature has been lost through the shortening process. The blade characteristics are similar to those of the Aoe school of Bitchu Province, which thrived during the same period.
Bibliographic references: Smith et al 1990 / Japanese Art: Masterpieces in the British Museum (66); Tokyo National Museum 1987 / Daiei Hakubutsukan shozo Nihon-Chugoku bijutsu meihin ten (63); Harris 2004 / Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum (fig. 13)
Location: Not on display
Subjects
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1979
Department: Asia
Registration number: 1979,0703.2

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