Knife Item Number: N2.895 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
A tanto-like knife with an elaborately ornamented wooden sheath and handle. The knife handle has two inlaid abalone shell butterflies. The sheath has inlaid and raised floral and leaf designs of mother of pearl, ivory, and lacquer work. There is a small green seal.
Cultural Context
Samurai dress sword, of type used to commit harikiri.
Narrative
Collected by missionary family in Japan. Suggested to be 17th century.
Item History
What
- Name
- Knife
- Identification Number
- N2.895 a-b
- Type of Item
- knife
- Material
- wood, copper metal, stone, abalone shell, bronze metal and steel metal
- Manufacturing Technique
- forged, carved, inlaid, lacquered and chased
- Overall
- height 5.5 cm, width 36.0 cm, depth 3.5 cm
Who
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Japan
When
- Collection Date
- during 1912
- Ownership Date
- before May 2, 1972
- Acquisition Date
- on May 2, 1972
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- good
- Current Location
- Case 78
- Accession Number
- 0192/0001 a-b