Japanese Ornaments - Sword Fittings

The other day, I went to the museum for the first time in a while on my day off.

It's not a big museum, but rather small so I was able to take my time and appreciate it.

This art exhibition is for sword fittings✨

It is held at the Kosetsu Museum in Nakanoshima.

I also wrote about it in my 2020 blog, "Let's look at Japanese jewelry from the perspective of history."

It seems that jewelry such as rings and gemstones came to spread widely in Japan around the time of the change to Western clothing in the Meiji period, which is surprisingly recent.

https://itoaware-osaka.storeinfo.jp/posts/8828262/

In Japan, there were many things that could be incorporated into our lives and used for practical purposes such as accessories, sword guards, helmet and armor decorations, smoke pipes, drawers for combs, obi fasteners, nail concealers, sliding doors, etc.

Among them, many items derived from swords are exhibited at this art exhibition of sword fittings.

I was deeply moved by the splendor of the metalwork techniques that have been passed down from long ago.

I spent about two and a half hours admiring it, clinging to the glass.

It's a sword decoration, so it's not that big, but the hammering and carving are very delicate.

I'm in love.

In an age when tools and equipment were scarce compared to today, metalwork skills are truly wonderful.

In this art exhibition, many decorations of menuki, kougai, and small sanshomono are exhibited.

I think there were a lot of petite decorations in particular.

With the ban on swords and with the change from kimono to Western clothing, instead of accessories from sword fittings people started to wear rings like those sold at itoaware.

In modern times, the city is overflowing with fashionable things that everyone can enjoy. 

The Kosetsu Museum in Nakanoshima is about 20 to 30 minutes from the itoware Osaka store.

https://www.kosetsu-museum.or.jp/

If you are interested, please go!

The art exhibition of sword fittings is until February 26th.