Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel
Dimensions
L. 8 5/8 in. (21.8 cm); L. of head 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); W. 2 1/8 in. (5.4 cm); Wt. 1.5 oz. (42.5 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
32.75.502
Art Historical Context
This exquisite steel arrowhead, known as *yanone* in Japanese, hails from 18th-century Japan during the Edo period—a time of relative peace under the Tokugawa shogunate, yet one where martial traditions like archery remained central to samurai culture. Measuring 8⅝ inches long with a 3¼-inch head, this lightweight (1.5 oz.) piece exemplifies the precision craftsmanship of Japanese arms makers. Forged from high-quality steel, *yanone* were designed for kyūdō (Japanese archery), a discipline blending combat utility, Zen philosophy, and aesthetic refinement. The broad, barbed head (2⅛ inches wid...