This <i>ito-maki-no tachi</i> has the scabbard decorated in gold <i>nashiji</i> lacquer with <i>kiri-mon</i> and <i>karakusa</i> scrolling. The metal fittings are all of the Goto School of shakudo, and inlaid with gold. Silk brocades in the style known as ‘ito-maki’ are wrapped round the section of the scabbard near the suspension cords. When the sword was worn with full armour, this helped to prevent the expensive lacquer from being abraded.
This mounting was made for a 14th century sword. It was probably assembled about 1850. The <i>tachi</i> blade itself is signed ‘Bishu Osafune Morimitsu’ (Morimitsu of Osafune in Bizen) and dates from the late 14th century. The blade has been shortened considerably, perhaps by as much as 10 centimetres. It has a strong <i>gunome choji-hamon</i>.
Sir Claude MacDonald was British Ambassador to Japan from 1905 to 1912. He had a particular interest in swords. According to V&A records, this blade was given to him by ‘Prince Katsura’. Sir Claude’s widow, Lady Ethel MacDonald, gave the V&A four splendid swords.