Sword and Scabbard
ca.1800-1850 (made)
| Place of origin |
This long sword is called a katana in Japan. Its blade is ridged and has a slight curve with heavy irregular hamon - the Japanese term for the tempered surface along the edge of a sword. It is signed Kato Chojusai Tsunatoshi and dated "a lucky day in the second month of the second year of the reign of Emperor Ansei (1855)".
The wooden hilt of the sword is wrapped with silk cord braid and diagonally bound with diamond-shaped openings, revealing rayfish skin underneath. A large menuki, the ornamental metal pieces positioned either side of the hilt under the wrapping is in the shape of a buddha. The sword guard (tsuba) is of iron with basket ground and small sprays in gold wire nunome, a technique in which the surface of the tsuba is cut with a cross hatch pattern and metal is pressed in. The corresponding set of collar and pommel cap (fuchi-kashira) are of silver and decorated with waves and clouds.
The scabbard is wooden and is wrapped in bamboo basketwork in brown-beige natural shades. The chape of the scabbard, the kojiri, is of silver and decorated with the image of a dragon.
The wooden hilt of the sword is wrapped with silk cord braid and diagonally bound with diamond-shaped openings, revealing rayfish skin underneath. A large menuki, the ornamental metal pieces positioned either side of the hilt under the wrapping is in the shape of a buddha. The sword guard (tsuba) is of iron with basket ground and small sprays in gold wire nunome, a technique in which the surface of the tsuba is cut with a cross hatch pattern and metal is pressed in. The corresponding set of collar and pommel cap (fuchi-kashira) are of silver and decorated with waves and clouds.
The scabbard is wooden and is wrapped in bamboo basketwork in brown-beige natural shades. The chape of the scabbard, the kojiri, is of silver and decorated with the image of a dragon.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | rayfish skin and silk; metal fittings of iron, gold, silver and other metals |
| Brief description | Long sword (katana), signed Tsunatoshi, and wooden scabbard wrapped in bamboo basketwork, hilt covered with rayfish skin and silk, metal fittings, Japan, ca. 1800-1850 |
| Physical description | Wooden hilt is wrapped with silk corded braid, diagonally bound with diamond-shaped openings, revealing the rayfish skin underneath. A large menuki of a buddha is held under the cord. Iron guard with basket ground and small sprays in gold wire nunome. Silver fuchi-kashira (waves and clouds), the k. with "mountain path". Silver kojiri (dragon), iroye menuki (the Demon Spider). |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Summary | This long sword is called a katana in Japan. Its blade is ridged and has a slight curve with heavy irregular hamon - the Japanese term for the tempered surface along the edge of a sword. It is signed Kato Chojusai Tsunatoshi and dated "a lucky day in the second month of the second year of the reign of Emperor Ansei (1855)". The wooden hilt of the sword is wrapped with silk cord braid and diagonally bound with diamond-shaped openings, revealing rayfish skin underneath. A large menuki, the ornamental metal pieces positioned either side of the hilt under the wrapping is in the shape of a buddha. The sword guard (tsuba) is of iron with basket ground and small sprays in gold wire nunome, a technique in which the surface of the tsuba is cut with a cross hatch pattern and metal is pressed in. The corresponding set of collar and pommel cap (fuchi-kashira) are of silver and decorated with waves and clouds. The scabbard is wooden and is wrapped in bamboo basketwork in brown-beige natural shades. The chape of the scabbard, the kojiri, is of silver and decorated with the image of a dragon. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.112:2-1928 |
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| Record created | April 18, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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