Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel
Dimensions
L.10 in. (25.4 cm); L. of head 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm); Wt. 1.7 oz. (48.2 g)
Classification
Archery Equipment-Arrowheads
Culture
Japanese
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Collection of Giovanni P. Morosini, presented by his daughter Giulia, 1932
Accession Number
32.75.378
Art Historical Context
This exquisite steel arrowhead, known as *yanone* in Japanese, hails from 18th-century Japan, a time when the Edo period's relative peace fostered refined martial traditions like archery (*kyūdō*). Measuring just 2¾ inches long and weighing a mere 1.7 ounces, its slender, pointed form was designed for precision and penetration, ideal for warfare, hunting, or ceremonial use among samurai. Crafted from high-quality steel through masterful forging techniques, it exemplifies the Japanese smiths' legendary skill in metallurgy, balancing lethal functionality with elegant simplicity. In Japanese cul...