Artwork preview

Smallsword with Scabbard

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Smallsword with Scabbard. The hilt is gold with a textured surface. A thin metal bar curves around the left side of the hilt, attaching at the top and bottom. The guard has curved metal extensions on either side. A rounded knob tops the hilt. The long, thin blade is partially visible, with a light-colored metal surface. Background is gray.

Artwork details

Date:
ca. 1730
Medium:
Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, steel, wood, leather, textile
Culture:
Japanese, possibly Dejima, for the Western market
Dimensions:
446 × 624 px
Museum record:
View original
Palette