Sword with Carved Handle
Asian Art
On View: Asian Galleries, Arts of Japan, 2nd floor
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.
MEDIUM
Wood and steel
DATES
late 19th–early 20th century
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)
(show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER
12.497a-b
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Herman Stutzer
PROVENANCE
Prior to 1912, provenance not yet documented; 1912, purchased in Japan by Stewart Culin for the Brooklyn Museum.
Provenance FAQ
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). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Herman Stutzer, 12.497a-b. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 12.497_PS9.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 12.497_PS9.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2014
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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