Artwork preview

Blade and Mounting for a Short Sword (Wakizashi)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Japanese sword with long, slightly curved, single-edged blade. The blade shows hamon and has a complex pattern of tempered and untempered steel along the spine. The blade has a long tang with a distinctive shape. The handle has rayskin wrapped around it, with a long metal habaki near the blade. The curved guard is relatively short. The entire object appears to be made of metal. The background is light gray.

Artwork Details

Date
blade, 16th century; mounting, early–mid 19th century
Medium
Steel, wood, lacquer, silk, rayskin (samé), baleen, iron, gold
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
240 × 623 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette