Scabbard
early 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ito-maki-no tachi has the scabbard decorated in gold nashiji lacquer with kiri-mon and karakusa scrolling. The metal fittings are all of the Goto School of shakudo, and inlaid with gold. Silk brocades in the style known as ‘ito-maki’ are wrapped round the section of the scabbard near the suspension cords. When the sword was worn with full armour, this helped to prevent the expensive lacquer from being abraded.
This mounting was made for a 14th century sword. It was probably assembled about 1850. The tachi blade itself is signed ‘Bishu Osafune Morimitsu’ (Morimitsu of Osafune in Bizen) and dates from the late 14th century. The blade has been shortened considerably, perhaps by as much as 10 centimetres. It has a strong gunome choji-hamon.
Sir Claude MacDonald was British Ambassador to Japan from 1905 to 1912. He had a particular interest in swords. According to V&A records, this blade was given to him by ‘Prince Katsura’. Sir Claude’s widow, Lady Ethel MacDonald, gave the V&A four splendid swords.
This mounting was made for a 14th century sword. It was probably assembled about 1850. The tachi blade itself is signed ‘Bishu Osafune Morimitsu’ (Morimitsu of Osafune in Bizen) and dates from the late 14th century. The blade has been shortened considerably, perhaps by as much as 10 centimetres. It has a strong gunome choji-hamon.
Sir Claude MacDonald was British Ambassador to Japan from 1905 to 1912. He had a particular interest in swords. According to V&A records, this blade was given to him by ‘Prince Katsura’. Sir Claude’s widow, Lady Ethel MacDonald, gave the V&A four splendid swords.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Lacquered wood, with gold and patinated copper fittings and silk bindings |
| Brief description | Itomaki tachi scabbard, ca.1850 |
| Physical description | Itomaki tachi scabbard decorated in gold nashiji lacquer with kiri-mon and karakusa scrolling. The metal fittings are all by the Goto school and are of shakudo inlaid with gold. The section of the scabbard near the suspension cords is wrapped with silk brocades to prevent the expensive lacquer from being abraded when the sword is worn with full armour. |
| Style | |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Lady Ethel MacDonald |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This ito-maki-no tachi has the scabbard decorated in gold nashiji lacquer with kiri-mon and karakusa scrolling. The metal fittings are all of the Goto School of shakudo, and inlaid with gold. Silk brocades in the style known as ‘ito-maki’ are wrapped round the section of the scabbard near the suspension cords. When the sword was worn with full armour, this helped to prevent the expensive lacquer from being abraded. This mounting was made for a 14th century sword. It was probably assembled about 1850. The tachi blade itself is signed ‘Bishu Osafune Morimitsu’ (Morimitsu of Osafune in Bizen) and dates from the late 14th century. The blade has been shortened considerably, perhaps by as much as 10 centimetres. It has a strong gunome choji-hamon. Sir Claude MacDonald was British Ambassador to Japan from 1905 to 1912. He had a particular interest in swords. According to V&A records, this blade was given to him by ‘Prince Katsura’. Sir Claude’s widow, Lady Ethel MacDonald, gave the V&A four splendid swords. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.139:2-1929 |
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| Record created | November 29, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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