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Sword Stand

ca. 1868-1910 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A sword stand (katana kake) consisting of a pair of shaped feet, each supporting an undulating upright, surmounted at the top with a u-shape indentation, together providing the rest for a sword; a horizontal panel between the two uprights, from the feet to around half way up, provides support to the overall structure. The stand is made of wood covered in gold nashiji (irregularly-shaped flakes of gold suspended in clear or yellowish lacquer resembling pear skin), with a chrysanthemum mon (family badge) in gold takamaki-e (maki-e in which parts of the design are raised by adding clay or charcoal powder) in the centre of each side of the panel. All edges are finished with a thin fundame band (a matt densely sprinkled fine gold powder lacquer ground).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
wood covered in gold <i>nashiji</i> (irregularly-shaped flakes of gold suspended in clear or yellowish lacquer resembling pear skin), gold <i>takamaki-e</i> (<i>maki-e</i> in which parts of the design are raised by adding clay or charcoal powder) and fundame (a matt densely sprinkled fine gold powder lacquer ground).
Brief description
Sword stand, wood covered in gold lacquer, with a a chrysanthemum mon (family badge) in raised gold lacquer, signed Koshichi Tomita, Japan, ca.1868-1910
Physical description
A sword stand (katana kake) consisting of a pair of shaped feet, each supporting an undulating upright, surmounted at the top with a u-shape indentation, together providing the rest for a sword; a horizontal panel between the two uprights, from the feet to around half way up, provides support to the overall structure. The stand is made of wood covered in gold nashiji (irregularly-shaped flakes of gold suspended in clear or yellowish lacquer resembling pear skin), with a chrysanthemum mon (family badge) in gold takamaki-e (maki-e in which parts of the design are raised by adding clay or charcoal powder) in the centre of each side of the panel. All edges are finished with a thin fundame band (a matt densely sprinkled fine gold powder lacquer ground).
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.7cm
  • Width: 40.32cm (Note: Measurements taken from the registers and converted from inches)
Content description
Chrysanthemum mon (family badge)
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Tomita Koshichi surrounded by a rectangular box in gold hiramaki-e (metal powder sprinkled on to a lacquer design before it hardens so that it is in low relief) lacquer). (The inscription is under one of the feet)
Translation
Respecfully made by Tomita Koshichi
Credit line
Given by Major Nathan CMG
Object history
This sword stand, decorated with the imperial chrysanthemum mon (family badge) was undoubtedly made for the emperor to present as a gift, probably to one of his generals. Koshichi Tomita is known to have made many pieces for the Imperial household.
Subjects depicted
Collection
Accession number
M.1082-1927

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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