Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Due to the fashion for shorter swords in later centuries, the tang of this blade was trimmed by about four inches (ten centimeters), resulting in the loss of the bladesmith's signature. The mounting was designed to appeal to European and American tastes.
Artwork Details
- Title: Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)
- Swordsmith: Unsigned, but probably by Uda Kunimitsu (Japanese, active mid–late 14th century)
- Date: blade, mid–late 14th century; mounting, late 19th century; grip ornaments, late 16th century; hilt collar, 17th century; hairdressing tool, 17th century; sword guard, late 17th–early 18th century
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Steel, wood (rosewood), lacquer, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, copper, enamel
- Dimensions: L. 23 7/16 in. (59.6 cm); L. of blade 21 5/16 in. (54.2 cm); L. of cutting edge 15 11/16 in. (39.8 cm); D. of curvature 3/16 in. (0.5 cm)
- Classification: Swords
- Credit Line: Gift of Brayton Ives and W. T. Walters, 1891
- Object Number: 91.2.48
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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