Artwork preview

Blade and Mounting for a Dagger (<i>Tantō</i>)

Gassan Sadakazu

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Curved silver-gray metal blade with a white border along the edge. A relief carving of a dragon is etched on the blade, appearing to move upwards. The dragon has a rounded head with two short horns. The body has scales and four clawed feet. The background is black.

Artwork Details

Date
blade, dated 1870; mounting, 19th century
Medium
Steel, wood (rosewod), copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), copper-silver alloy (<i>shibuichi</i>), gold, silver
Culture
Japanese
Dimensions
266 × 623 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette