Sword, ornament, and scabbard / Artist Unknown, Japan
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1973/2.88
- Title
- Sword, ornament, and scabbard
- Artist
- Artist Unknown, Japan
- Artist Nationality
- Japanese
- Medium and Support
- forged steel, lacquer, and gold
- Object Creation Date
- 1858
- Object Creation Place
- Asia (continent)
- Japan (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Asia (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Japan (nation)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Frederic R. Smith
- Inscription
- Signature
- Dimensions
- 97 cm x 7.6 cm x 8.5 cm (38 3/16 in. x 3 in. x 3 3/8 in.)
- Century
- 19th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Arms and Armor
- Primary Object Type
- sword
- Secondary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Secondary Object Type
- sword
- Physical Description
- The sword is long and slightly curved; the metal smith's name is engraved on the metal handle. The scabbard is painted with black laquer with image of samurai and cherry tree. He wears a jacket, pants, a straw hat and a sword, holding a brush, possibly writing a poem on a piece of paper hanging from the tree. The figure and tree are painted with rose-color and gold laquer.
- Subject Matter
- Long swords (tachi) were the most important belongings for samurai, almost as equal to their lives; as many tragic stories attest, samurai could commit suicide when his sword was taken, stolen, or lost. The samurai in the laquered scabbard engages in a traditional literal activity, versing a poem in promptu. The combination of samurai and the literal practice may suggest the way of samurai" (bushidô) ideal: "exel in both civil and military pursuits" (bunbu ryôdô).
- Secondary Keywords
- cases (containers)
- coating (material)
- coating by composition or origin
- containers
- containers by form
- descriptors
- edged weapons
- materials
- materials by function
- objects we use
- sheaths
- weapons
- weapons and ammunition
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 2828 x 1684
- File Size
- 634 KB
- Record
- 1973/2.88
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1973-sl-2.88/1973_2.88.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1973-SL-2.88:1973_2.88.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Sword, ornament, and scabbard; Artist Unknown, Japan." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1973-sl-2.88/1973_2.88.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 23, 2024.