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The John H. Morris Collection of Japanese arms and armor was assembled between 1910 and 1930 by the late Frederick Malling Pedersen, Professor of Mathematics at the City College of New York. Professor Pederson's life-long interest in Japan and Japanese art began with the purchase of a set of swords (daisho) on a trip to Asia in the 1870s with his seafaring grandfather. His interest in Japanese swords and armor deepened while a student at Columbia University, through his affiliation with the Arms and Armor Club of New York and later through friendship with Bashford Dean, former curator of the Department of Arms and Armor in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. The majority of the collection was purchased through Yamanaka and Co., New York and London and at auction at the American Art Galleries, New York. A group of Japanese swords and armor from the collection was donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by Mr. Morris in 2002 and 2003. The Pederson Collection came to the Morris family by descent.
A Short Sword (Wakizashi)
MUROMACHI PERIOD (FIRST HALF 16TH CENTURY), SIGNED KANETOMO
Details
A Short Sword (Wakizashi)
Muromachi period (first half 16th century), signed Kanetomo
The configuration hira-zukuri with an iori-mune back, an o-gissaki point, saki-zori curvature and bo-hi ni tsure-hi carved on both sides; the forging pattern mokume and the tempered edge o-gunome togari with a jizo tip; the tang shortened with one mekugi-ana with indistinct file marks; in wood storage scabbard
14¾in. (37.4cm.) long
With a certificate issued by the Nihon Token Hozon Kai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword), dated 1997.10.12
Muromachi period (first half 16th century), signed Kanetomo
The configuration hira-zukuri with an iori-mune back, an o-gissaki point, saki-zori curvature and bo-hi ni tsure-hi carved on both sides; the forging pattern mokume and the tempered edge o-gunome togari with a jizo tip; the tang shortened with one mekugi-ana with indistinct file marks; in wood storage scabbard
14¾in. (37.4cm.) long
With a certificate issued by the Nihon Token Hozon Kai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Sword), dated 1997.10.12