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Sword of the katana type

(Japanese, dates unknown)
late 13th century
Medium/TechniqueTempered steel
DimensionsLength (overall): 86 cm (33 7/8 in.)
Length (blade): 68 cm (26 3/4 in.)
Other (curvature) 2.4 cm (15/16 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.11171.1
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsArms and armor
Collections
InscriptionsNagamitsu (in gold inlay) 長光 Hon'a (cipher) 本阿 (花押)
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
Osafune Nagamitsu
13th century
Sword of the tachi type
Osafune Nagamitsu
13th–14th centuries
Osafune Nagamitsu
13th century
Osafune Kagemoto
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Osafune Kagemitsu
early 14th century
Sword of the tachi type
Bishû Osafune Morishige
late 14th–early 15th centuries
Bishû Osafune Yoshimitsu
14th century
Group shot: 11.11126, 11.11189, 11.11132, 13.323
Osafune Kanemitsu
1357
Osafune Yasumitsu
15th century
Group shot: 11.11126, 11.11189, 11.11132, 13.323
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Bishû Osafune Norimitsu
1449