Short Sword with Black Lacquer Saya

Description This blade was shortened from a large tachi, and appears to be a work by Tametsugu or a related smith working in the 14th century. It combines elements of the Soshu and Mino styles. The mounts for this blade include a black lacquer "saya" with polished cherry blossoms on a dull ground, and an elaborate "kojiri" of gold and silver with crayfish and waves. The piece also has a silver "kurigata," a gold and copper "kozuka" handle with a whale, an inscription on the handle and blade, a gold "habaki" and "seppa," a silver "tsuba" and "fuchi," a gold "menuki" with two carp, a "shibuichi" and a gold "kashira." Ray skin and ito-maki decorate the two-handed tsuka.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions [Signature] Takamoto Hidemune; [Signature] Fujiwara Kinmichi; [Transcription] Takamoto Hidemune/Meiji yonen Kanoto-Hitsuji nagazuki; [Transcription] Meiji roku [ ]tsuki/Takamoto Hidemune; [Translation] Meiji 6 (1873)/Takamoto Hidemune; [Translation] Takamoto Hidemune/Meiji 4 (1871) {8th cycle} September

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters