Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>)

Gassan Sadakazu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In 1876, the Japanese government issued an edict abolishing the wearing of the sword in Japan. Sadakazu is one of the few swordsmiths to continue working after that date. He kept the craft alive by making replicas of ancient blades. The blade of this dagger is made in the style of Umetada Myoju, a swordsmith active in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. The inscription indicates that Sadakazu did the engraving himself. The fittings are by Katsumori, a student of Kanō Natsuo (1829–1898), the last great maker of sword fittings.

Arms and Armor

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art