Japanese Wakizashi With A Stingray-skin Scabbard And Kozuka Circa 1860

Elegant Japanese wakizashi, circa 1860, with a 40 cm curved steel blade, accompanied by its scabbard and auxiliary knife.

The handle and scabbard are covered in samé, or stingray skin, featuring a fine pearlescent texture with shades of brown and ivory. The handle is adorned with a metal ornament resembling a knotted ribbon.

The guard, or tsuba, made of patinated metal, features an openwork scroll design enriched with delicate gold motifs. It bears engraved Japanese characters.

Housed in a side compartment of the scabbard, the auxiliary knife, or kogatana, has a kozuka handle with raised relief decoration accented with gold. Its blade also bears a Japanese inscription.

A beautiful set illustrating the refinement of Japanese sword fittings from the late Edo period.

Japan, circa 1860.
Total length: 55 cm.
Blade length: 40 cm.

Condition: patina, signs of use—see photo