Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)

Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)

Umetada Motoshige

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Large arrowheads, pierced and elaborately chiseled with landscapes, birds, flowers, dragons, and Buddhist divinities, were created to be admired for the beauty of their metalwork and design rather than for use in archery. This arrowhead is dated 1645 and signed by Umetada Motoshige (died 1675), a member of the Umetada school of swordsmiths, tsuba makers, and iron chiselers. It belongs to a group of more than thirty similarly signed and dated pieces in the Metropolitan Museum's collection (including acc. nos. 32.75.318, .321, .330, .334, .337, .339–.340, .398–.399, .403, .406, .409) that may have been made for presentation or as a votive offering to a shrine. The decoration includes symbols of long life and happiness: pine, bamboo, a crane, and a tortoise.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)

The principal goals of the Arms and Armor Department are to collect, preserve, research, publish, and exhibit distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Arms and armor have been a vital part of virtually all cultures for thousands of years, pivotal not only in conquest and defense, but also in court pageantry and ceremonial events. Throughout time the best armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical capabilities of the society and period in which they were made, forming a unique aspect of both art history and material culture.