Samurai Splendor: Sword Fittings from Edo Japan (Lecture by Markus Sesko)

This talk by Markus Sesko, Associate Curator of Asian Arms and Armor at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, introduces the museum’s extensive Japanese arms and armor collection and discusses the newly opened exhibition Samurai Splendor: Sword Fittings from Edo Japan. This exhibition explores the luxurious aspect of Edo-period sword fashion, a fascinating area of Japanese arms and armor rarely featured in exhibitions outside of Japan. It presents a selection of exquisite sword mountings, fittings and related objects, including sword-fittings makers’ sketchbooks, all drawn from The Met collection and many rarely or never been exhibited.
After almost a century and a half of near-constant civil war and political upheaval, Japan unified under the Tokugawa in the early 1600s. The Tokugawa regime brought economic growth, prolonged peace and widespread enjoyment of arts and culture. Their administration also imposed strict class separation and rigid regulations for the population. As a result, the Samurai ruling class had only a few ways to display personal taste in public. Fittings and accessories for their swords, which were indispensable symbols of power and authority, became a critical means of self-expression and a focal point of artistic creation.

[@michaelwhite8031]

Marcus is a lovely man and is never to busy to share his knowledge.

[@peteklein630]

Excellent presentation, Markus! Also, thanks to The Met for their generosity!

[@TheSurfson]

Fantastic presentation, thank you Markus!

[@johnwright9049]

Sword fittings were done in edo Era Nihon as a status symbol but primarily by the emerging merchant class .

[@rkm237]

Sorry I missed this one Markus... let me know the next time you are down in Florida. :)

[@raffaele3400]

Very nice Video