Sword with Carved Handle
1 of 3
Object Label
Adult Ainu men once carried a short, sheathed knife at all times. Like the tobacco kit, the knife was tucked into a man’s sash, and the quality of its carving and materials reflected the status of the wearer. Longer knives like this one were used for heavier work, such as butchering meat and cutting branches, but were still decorated. The blade and metal straps would have been acquired through trade, as the Ainu people did not engage in metalworking.
Caption
Ainu. Sword with Carved Handle, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood and steel, knife in sheath: 1 9/16 x 1 1/2 x 19 7/8 in. (4 x 3.8 x 50.5 cm) sheath alone: 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 14 in. (5.7 x 3.2 x 35.6 cm) knife alone: 3 x 15/16 x 18 1/2 in. (7.6 x 2.4 x 47 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Herman Stutzer, 12.497a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 12.497_PS9.jpg)
Collection
Collection
Culture
Title
Sword with Carved Handle
Date
late 19th–early 20th century
Geography
Place made: Northern region, Japan
Medium
Wood and steel
Classification
Dimensions
knife in sheath: 1 9/16 x 1 1/2 x 19 7/8 in. (4 x 3.8 x 50.5 cm) sheath alone: 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 14 in. (5.7 x 3.2 x 35.6 cm) knife alone: 3 x 15/16 x 18 1/2 in. (7.6 x 2.4 x 47 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Herman Stutzer
Accession Number
12.497a-b
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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