Short Sword with Black Lacquer Saya

Kinmichi II (Japanese) (Artist)

Takamoto Hidemune (Japanese, 1819-1887) (Artist)

Tametsugu (Japanese) (Artist)

1871-1873 (Meiji-Nambokucho)

lacquer, steel, silver, gold, copper alloy, ray skin shibuichi
(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

[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

Provenance

**Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.**

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

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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.

51.1261

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