Sword with Carved Handle
late 19th-early 20th century
Ainu
Asian Art
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.
- Maker/Artist
- Ainu
- Classification
- Tool
- Formatted Medium
- Wood and steel
- Locations
- Place made: Northern region, Japan
- 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)
- Departments
- Asian Art
- Accession Number
- 12.497a-b
- Credit Line
- Gift of Herman Stutzer
- Exhibitions
- Arts of Japan
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- Asian Galleries, Arts of Japan, 2nd floor
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