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Short Sword with Black Lacquer Saya
(Japanese Military Armor)
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.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Geographies
Japan, Tokyo (Edo) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
21 15/16 in. (55.8 cm)
Credit Line
Acquired by Henry Walters
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
51.1261