A smallsword with a Japanese sawasa hilt and a Dutch steel blade
Holland and Japan, mid-18th century
L. 90.5 cm
Literature:
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Sawasa / Japanese export art in black and gold 1650-1800 , Zwolle, Uitgeverij WBOOKS, 1998
The sawasa hilt, locket, and chape, made of an alloy of copper, silver, gold, zinc, arsenic, chromium, and nickel, consist of separate parts: the pommel, grip, knuckle, guard, guillon and guillon block, and the boat-shaped shell guard, which are decorated with black lacquered open relief with gilt flowers separated by a spiral gilt grove. The double-edged oval European/Dutch blade bears three marks: on top parade symbols, such as drums, flags, and lances; in the middle a ground paternoster; and below a faced sun.
The VOC transported blades from Holland to Batavia (Jakarta), and at first, the blades were mainly of the short, carved type the Dutch preferred for their personal defense. Important officials and those based in Japan had the blades fitted with sawasa hilts. By the mid-18th century, the hanger for personal defense was followed by the smallsword sent to Japan for furbishing with sawasa sword furniture. These smallswords may have been used for the hunt but probably more often during parades.
The Japanese made hilts in a few shapes but with a boundless variety of decorations. In the last quarter of the 18th century, with the VOC's downfall, the sawasaware market disappeared.
L. 90.5 cm
Literature:
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, Sawasa / Japanese export art in black and gold 1650-1800 , Zwolle, Uitgeverij WBOOKS, 1998
The sawasa hilt, locket, and chape, made of an alloy of copper, silver, gold, zinc, arsenic, chromium, and nickel, consist of separate parts: the pommel, grip, knuckle, guard, guillon and guillon block, and the boat-shaped shell guard, which are decorated with black lacquered open relief with gilt flowers separated by a spiral gilt grove. The double-edged oval European/Dutch blade bears three marks: on top parade symbols, such as drums, flags, and lances; in the middle a ground paternoster; and below a faced sun.
The VOC transported blades from Holland to Batavia (Jakarta), and at first, the blades were mainly of the short, carved type the Dutch preferred for their personal defense. Important officials and those based in Japan had the blades fitted with sawasa hilts. By the mid-18th century, the hanger for personal defense was followed by the smallsword sent to Japan for furbishing with sawasa sword furniture. These smallswords may have been used for the hunt but probably more often during parades.
The Japanese made hilts in a few shapes but with a boundless variety of decorations. In the last quarter of the 18th century, with the VOC's downfall, the sawasaware market disappeared.
Part of the Japan collection.
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