london exhibits?

[mattyd]

Hi-

I have an afternoon free in London next week and wondered if anyone can recommend anywhere to go, museum or otherwise, to see some swords?

thanks

Matt

[kissakai]

There is a dedicated Japanse room in the Victoria and Albert Museum

It is the Toshiba gallery on level one

A search on the web will give you full details

Last time I went there were some Japanese National Treasures on special display - some of which had never before left Japan.

There are various other Ninoto around the museum

 

 

Grev UK

[Baka Gaijin]

Hi Matt

 

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/r ... 5-level-1/

 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/ga ... Japan.aspx

 

http://www.wallacecollection.org/thecol ... sandarmour

 

Cheers

[mattyd]

Thanks for all your replies and help - I went to the V&A yesterday - and was very disappointed.

 

There was only 1 sword on display in the Japanese room - yes one!

 

All the other swords - maybe 10 or 15 were in koshirae - which seems pointless to me.

It's like putting historic objects inside pots so you can't see them.

 

I don't understand their thinking at all as I can see no reason the swords cannot be displayed- proven by the fact that one is.

 

oh well maybe try the British museum next time...

 

Thanks again,

Matt

[IanB]

Matt, I don't think you will be that impressed at the British Museum either. I went there last year to look at some armour they had in store and took a look at their display whist I was there. Considering that they have hundreds of swords, many of which have recently been re-polished and re-furbished, to see only one armour and one or two swords on display is disappointing. You might try the Tower of London. They ave at least an armour of Takeda Katsuyori on show plus a couple of sword blades. Being the Tower, most space is dedicated to items from its history. The bulk of the Royal Armouries' collection is in Leeds where there are about 15 blades on show.

Ian Bottomley

[Ian]

Matt

The V&A is a Museum of art and design, I heard story's that some blades in the past were discarded, as the interest was only in the art and design of the koshirae.

 

have a good trip :D

[Justin]

Matt,

 

You might also like to try Don Bayney's little shop in Grey's Antiques Market. It is in Davies Street (off Oxford St) - just near Bond Street Tube Station. He has a few swords and lots of fittings.

 

Another option is The Lanes Armoury in Brighton. They have lots of nihonto of varying quality.