1960.10.9.1

Collection type

Object

Description

Knife with bone handle [.1] and bone sheath [.2]. [El.B 26/02/2008]

Long description

The handle and the sheath are both decorated with relief carvings of human figures, trees and flowers. There is also a signature on the sheath. The knife had got a scabbard sleeve of brass. [El.B 26/02/2008]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Field collector George Smyth Baden-Powell

PRM source Donald Ferlys Wilson Baden-Powell

Date / Period

Date made: Circa by 1893

Date collected

Circa 1893

Acquisition information

Donated: 1960

Materials and processes

Material Steel Metal, Material Animal Bone, Material Wood Plant, Material Brass Metal, Process Carved, Process Inscribed, Process Forged (Metal), Process Incised

Dimensions

Length: max 350 mm, Length: max 237 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1960.10.9.1 Accession number: 1960.10.9.2

Research and responses

Related Documents File - Information supplied by Colin Langton, 1998. '... Solid bone hilt and scabbard with extensive carving. Information by C D Langton, 1995. TYPE. Tanto (dagger) late 19th cent, for export or sale to foreign visitors (souvenirs). SUGATA. Unokubi Zukuri, very low Ihori Mune, shallow Torii Sori, see diagram. NAGASA. 22.5 cm, Motohaba 23 mm, Sakihaba 20 mm, Kasane 3 mm. JIHADA. is not visible and the Hamon is Chu Suguha but looks weak, i.e. a low temperature was used when the blade was quench/hardened process. NAKAGO. being Ubu and Futsu, no Yasurime are present the tang has been left rough from the hammer (Tsuchime), shark Iriyamagata Jiri, the tang which reinforces the evidence that this piece was made for export and was not meant to be an offensive weapon. The copper Habaki has a diagonal line decoration, and a repeated semi circular design cut out along the blade side, this last feature is unusual. MOUNTS. These are made completely of solid animal (leg) bone, the whole surface of the scabbard and hilt has a deep relief carving of a Chinese domestic scene, of figures holding fans among fig trees, and a large vase containing a very large leafed plant, and what appears to be bales of cloth or silk etc, the work is of reasonably good quality there is a signature thwoards the butt end of the scabbard, presumably the carvers name, [Japanese character] Take, [Japanese character] ?, * The Kojiri, Kashira, Fuchi and Koi Guchi or their equivalent are missing. * I am unable to identify this character, even with the help of a Japanese translator. [Labelled Drawing]' [MOB 19/2/2002]

Search terms: Weapon, Writing, Tool, Knife, Sheath, Inscription