Description:

East Asia, Japan, World War II period, ca. 1938 to 1945 CE. An elegant Japanese officer's sword, known as a type 98 gunto katana, presenting with a long carbon steel blade in a lustrous hue of silver with a tapered top and brass base attached to a skillfully wrapped cotton-bound handle of sting ray skin. The end cap features a singular iron-copper alloy loop for holding a lanyard, while a petite ornament of 3 flowers, resembling daisies, decorates each side of the handle. A carbon steel sheath of light brown, lined with wood, and embellished with a floral iron ornament featuring a knob bearing a loop, for suspension to one's hip, is near the base and an iron tip with an embossed 5-petalled flower protects this intriguing weapon. The machine-forged steel blade has a brass cap along the shoulder and can be removed from the lacquered iron sheath via a release screw on the handle. This fine example from Japanese culture is historical evidence that looks can kill! Size with sheath: 39" L x 3" W (99.1 cm x 7.6 cm); Size of blade: 27.375" L (69.5 cm)

Provenance: private Naperville, Illinois, USA collection, acquired in 1940s in Japan

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#160576

  • Condition: Expected wear to sheath with nice patina on blade and metal adornments. Intact and excellent.

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December 3, 2020 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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