Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>)
Unknown Artist
18th century
Medium
Steel
Dimensions
L. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm); L. of head 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); W. 1 5/16 in. (3.3 cm); Wt. 1.2 oz. (34 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
32.75.543
Art Historical Context
This exquisite steel arrowhead, known as *yanone*, hails from 18th-century Japan and exemplifies the masterful metalworking of the Edo period. Measuring just 9¼ inches in total length with a 3¼-inch head, it weighs a mere 1.2 ounces, revealing the precision engineering required for deadly accuracy in archery. Crafted from high-quality steel, the *yanone* was forged to pierce armor or hunt game, showcasing techniques like differential hardening that balanced sharpness with resilience—hallmarks of Japanese bladesmithing. In Japanese culture, archery transcended warfare, embodying the samurai's ...