Knife

Collected by missionary family in Japan. Suggested to be 17th century.

Samurai dress sword, of type used to commit harikiri.

A tanto-like knife with an elaborately ornamented wooden sheath and handle. The knife handle has two inlaid abalone shell butterflies. The sheath has inlaid and raised floral and leaf designs of mother of pearl, ivory, and lacquer work. There is a small green seal.