Katana
Japanese
Category
Arms and armour
Date
Unknown
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Fish skin, Steel, Brass, Bronze, Textile
Measurements
32 mm (Width); 1100 mm (Length)
Place of origin
Japan
Order this imageCollection
Snowshill Manor and Garden, Gloucestershire
NT 1328952
Summary
Sword; Katana, Japanese sword. Long, curved steel blade, signed on tang beneath handle. Copper spacer and two further brass fittings. In between these fittings is a bronze tsuba engraved with waves and three small birds. The tsuba has two holes either side of the blade space. The handle has a brass ferrule at one end and a brass kachira at the base, both engraved with Japanese characters. The handle is made of wood and covered with cream fish skin and navy textile webbing. Wooden, black lacquered scabbard with gold lacquered cranes (five on each side). Carved metal tip. Wooden strap loop. Sticky label to scabbard, '8'.
Provenance
Given to the National Trust with Snowshill Manor in 1951 by Charles Paget Wade.
Makers and roles
Japanese , maker