Sword, Scabbard, Kogatana and Kogai
ca. 1750-1850 (made)
| Place of origin |
This short sword, wakizashi, has a broad ridged blade of slight curve and a wooden hilt diagonally wrapped in gold silk braid, with diamond-shaped openings, revealing rayfish skin. The ornamental metal pieces positioned either side of the hilt, known as menuki, are in gold and decorated with an image of a ho-o, which is a type of phoenix. The hand guard, tsuba, is made of the copper-gold alloy shakudo and in the shape of a star, and the fuchi-kashira, which are the pommel and collar of the hilt, are of silver with gilt dragons amid clouds in relief. The accompanying scabbard is of wood covered in lacquered rayfish skin.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 4 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Wooden scabbard and hilt covered with rayfish skin; lacquered scabbard and silk covered hilt; metal fittings of silver, gold and 'shakudo'. |
| Brief description | Short sword (wakezashi) with scabbard, scabbard-knife (kogatana) and bodkin (kogai), wooden lacquered scabbard covered in rayfish skin and wooden hilt wrapped in gold silk; metal fittings of silver, gold and shakudo; Japan, ca. 1750-1850. |
| Physical description | Short sword (wakizashi), scabbard, scabbard knife (kogatana) and bodkin (kogai). Wooden hilt diagonally wrapped in gold silk braid, with diamond-shaped openings, revealing rayfish skin and gold menuki of a bird. under braid. Star-shaped hand-guard (tsuba) and metal fittings of silver, gold and shakudo. Fuchi and kashira of silver with gilt dragons amid clouds in relief. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Summary | This short sword, wakizashi, has a broad ridged blade of slight curve and a wooden hilt diagonally wrapped in gold silk braid, with diamond-shaped openings, revealing rayfish skin. The ornamental metal pieces positioned either side of the hilt, known as menuki, are in gold and decorated with an image of a ho-o, which is a type of phoenix. The hand guard, tsuba, is made of the copper-gold alloy shakudo and in the shape of a star, and the fuchi-kashira, which are the pommel and collar of the hilt, are of silver with gilt dragons amid clouds in relief. The accompanying scabbard is of wood covered in lacquered rayfish skin. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.926:4-1916 |
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| Record created | April 26, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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