虫尽金具大小拵 Blade and Mounting for a Sword (<i>Katana</i>)

Yokoyama Kōzukedaijō Sukesada

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is the long sword (katana) of a pair of swords (daishō) which is mounted with a matching set of fittings depicting insects and plants that are traditionally associated with fall in Japan. The fittings were made by Otsuryūken Masanobu (乙柳軒政信, born 1773), who was the fourth generation of the Hamano (浜野) School. Some are inscribed with statements such as “made at the age of sixty-two” or “made at the age of sixty-three,” an inidication of the lengthy time it took him to produce the full set. The lower parts of the scabbard are lacquered in broad brush strokes, a technique referred to as seikaiha-nuri (literally “blue waves lacquer”).

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