A koshira-e (mounting) for a katana (long sword)


Edo period (1615-1868), early-mid 19th centuryThe saya (scabbard) of polished black lacquer wound in gold foil, the scabbard fittings all of gold fundame lacquer, the tsuka (hilt) covered in partially lacquered rayskin with standard silk tsukamaki wrapping in lozenge pattern, the gold menuki each in the form of a minogame (turtle with a 'tail' of weed), the fuchigashira of shakudo with roped borders and wisteria crests in glit, the tsuba of iron chiselled and pierced in the form of a chrysanthemum blossom, the ryohitsu openings plugged with gilt with a textured surface, the gilt rim finished in the same style; wood tsukuri blade; silk cord; with a brocade bag. 102.2cm (40¼in) long. (2).
|The gold-foil decoration of the scabbard is copied from a famous set of Momoyama-period mounted swords in Tokyo National Museum, see Kanzan Sato, The Japanese Sword, Tokyo, New York, and London, Kodansha International and Shibundo, 1983, pl.74.