Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō) for a Boy

Swordsmith Sword (katana) blade inscribed by Yoshimichi Japanese

Swordsmith Short sword (wakizashi) blade inscribed by Kindo (Kanemichi) Japanese

blades, late 17th–early 18th century; mountings, 19th century

Not on view

Surviving pairs of swords and mountings made for boys are very rare today, even in Japan. Either they were made at the time of the birth of a boy into a high-ranking samurai family and kept for use in the ceremonies to mark his recognition as an adult (usually between age twelve and sixteen), or they were commissioned by the family closer to the time of the ceremony. The long blade is signed by Yoshimichi, the shorter blade by Kindo (Kanemichi) of the Mishina School, Kyoto. The lacquer work on the mountings features a delicate pattern of crushed abalone shell.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Blades and Mountings for a Pair of Swords (Daishō) for a Boy
Swordsmith: Sword (katana) blade inscribed by Yoshimichi (Japanese, Kyoto, Edo period, active late 17th–early 18th century)
Swordsmith: Short sword (wakizashi) blade inscribed by Kindo (Kanemichi) (Japanese, Kyoto, Edo period, active late 17th–early 18th century)
Date: blades, late 17th–early 18th century; mountings, 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Steel, lacquer, wood, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, silk, ray skin, abalone, horn
Dimensions: L. of sword (katana) (2011.110.1) 27 1/2 in. (69.8 cm); L. of sword (katana) blade 19 1/2 in. (49.4 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) (2011.110.2) 20 7/8 in. (53.1 cm); L. of short sword (wakizashi) blade 15 in. (38 cm)
Classification: Swords
Credit Line: Purchase, Tom and Lore Firman Gift, in honor of Thaddeus W. Slawski, 2011
Object Number: 2011.110.1a–i, .2a–k
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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