- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Sword [.1] wakizashi, and black lacquered sheath [.2] with a small knife [.3] kozuka. [SM 23/11/2007]
- Long description
- Sword [.1] wakizashi, and black lacquered sheath [.2] with a small knife [.3] kozuka. The sword and sheath are slghtly curved. The hilt is bound with stingray skin and black silk. The tsuba has a punched perforated design. The small knife is single edged and undecorated. [SM 23/11/2007]
- Geographical reference
- Date / Period
- Date made: Circa 1796
- Date collected
- By 1911
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1911
- Materials and processes
- Material Steel Metal, Material Wood Plant, Material Lacquer Varnish, Material Stingray Skin Fish, Material Brass Metal, Material Silk Textile Animal, Process Forged (Metal), Process Carved, Process Lacquered Varnished, Process Bound, Process Inscribed, Process Punched
- Dimensions
- Length: max 183 mm sheath, Length: max 473 mm sword, Length: max 495 mm sword in sheath
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1911.1.57.1 Accession number: 1911.1.57.2 Accession number: 1911.1.57.3
- Research and responses
Related Documents File - Notes, information and descriptions provided by Colin Langton, 1997: 'TYPE. Ko Wakizashi, mounted in Buke Zukuri Koshirae of Higo form. SUGATA. Shinogi Zukuri, low Ihori Mune, Torii Sori and Chu Kissaki. NAGASA. 31.6 cm, Motohaba 22 mm, Sakihaba 15 mm, Kasane 5 mm. JIHADA. is not visible due to surface abrasions. HAMON. is barely visible, being Chu Suguha (medium width and straight), the Boshi would be a continuation of the Hamon (straight) though it's not visible. NAKAGO. being Ubu and Futsu, Iri Yamagata Jiri, Maru Hitoe (round, convex, back edge of the tang), Sujikai Yasurime on the Omote side, Hidari Sujikai on the Ura side, one Mekugi Ana. MEI. the signature has been cut in Sosho script, also known as Hiragana. Mei, Omote side. [Japanese character] ISHI [Japanese character] KAWA - Ishikawa, this could be personal name, or may indicate a place of residence, possibly in Kaga or Noto provinces, the former being more likely. [Japanese character] KANE - this character could also be read as Iye, Kyo, or Oto [Japanese character] NAO - Kanenao, smiths working name. [Japanese character] SAKU made this/by. Read as, Ishikawa Kanenao made this. Ura side. [Japanese character] KWAN [Japanese character] SEI - Kwansei name of era (1789 - 1801) [Japanese character] SHICHI (7) [Japanese character] NEN year [Japanese character] NI (2) [Japanese character] GATSU month [Japanese character] NICHI day. Read as, A day in February 7th year of Kwansei, (era) = 1796. Comments on the blade. This appears to be an unlisted smith, but the interpretation of the signature (not the date), could be open to question, the characters being cut in Sosho script, that is often difficult to translate, due to the artistic license used in the cutting of them, this being especially so with the character KANE in this signature. In form this blade is both narrow in width and thin in cross section, almost to the point of being flimsy, no forging characteristics are visible except for a barely discernible Hamon, this being due to surface abrasions not the forging process. But I cannot accept that this blade was made for a person of samurai rank, more likely for a youth or a person of the merchant class. Koshirae. Being of a form/style, commonly known as Higo Koshirae, but not necessarily from that province. Tsuka, tapers slightly towards the Kashira, having a wooden base under white. Same in turn covered by black Ito Maki. Plain black iron Fuchi and the black (iron?) Kashira has a simple incised line decoration of elongated S form. The Menuki are large, but of an unidentifiable form, being crudely made of either cast brass or another alloy where the design has been poorly embossed or punched out. Tsuba of poorly forged iron of Otafuku Mokko form in outline, ie resembling the silhouette of an Otafukei mask, having six apertures plus a single Ryo Hitsu, there is a single stylised plover forming the edge of one aperture, unsigned. The two copper Seppa have a brass finish and serrated decorative edges. The copper Hibaki has a diagonal file line decoration, and appears to be of fair quality, certainly better than the rest of the fittings. Saya, of wood beneath black polished lacquer (Ro Iro), now faded to almost a matt[e] finish, the scabbard has the conventional rounded butt (Kojiri) for this length of sword. The plain Kuri Kata has been fitted with decorated brass liners, the Kozuka being very crudely made of one piece of hammered out steel, and which I cannot believe is contemporary with these fittings.' There is also a label with the Mei, or signature written on both sides in imitation of its placement on the object. This too has the transcription into English and a rough translation. [MOB 30/10/2001]
1911.1.57.1
Sword [.1] wakizashi, and black lacquered sheath [.2] with a small knife [.3] kozuka. [SM 23/11/2007]
1911.1.57.1
Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford
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