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 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)
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).
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Technical Details

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

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Manifest
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1973-SL-2.88:1973_2.88.JPG

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"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 March 28, 2024.
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