Blade for a Sword (<i>Katana</i>)

Gassan Mitsu[...]

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Gassan school of swordsmiths was among the most celebrated in Japan. Blades with the distinctive concentrically curved grain pattern (ayasugi-hada) have been a specialty of the school since the fourteenth century. This katana, dating from the turn of the sixteenth century, has been shortened since its making, most likely to fit a subsequent owner.

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