Ashmolean Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

Just as the Miōchin (Group IV) were the premier family of armourers, so the Umetada [Japanese text] were the foremost swordsmiths of their day. Their 18th Master, Shigeyoshi I [Japanese text], is said to have made sword-furniture for the Ashikaga Shōgun (end of 14th century), but none of his work is known. Serious study of Umetada guards begins with the 25th Master, Miōju ([Japanese text], or Shigeyoshi II; b.1558; d. 1631). His headquarters, as also those of the succeeding nine Masters, were at Kiōto, but he was invited to several provincial centres and exerted a lasting influence on the local schools.

A branch founded by Naritsugu (c. 1752) worked at Yedo, while various members of the family were active at other centres. The Umetada style in general is a skilful combination of chiselling and incrustation or inlay, all the usual metals and alloys being employed to that end. Some of the later work was influenced by the hoami (Group XII).

A 19th-century Umetada, Ichiō or Kazuyoshi, signs the first character of the family-name with a plum (ume) blossom. His work displays soft modelling in low relief.

Tsuba with heraldic crest of the Shinjō family (EAX.10192)    Tsuba with plants, butterflies, and chariot-wheels (EAX.10193)    Tsuba with two flying egrets (EAX.10194)

Round tsuba with heraldic mon and scrolls (EAX.10195)    Lobed tsuba with chrysanthemums (EAX.10196)    Lobed tsuba with butterflies, a toad, and a gourd-vine (EAX.10197)

Octagonal tsuba with gosan-no-kiri, or paulownia leaves (EAX.10198)    Round tsuba with shippō diaper of interlaced circles (EAX.10199)    Round tsuba with heraldic chrysanthemum blossoms (EAX.10200)

Tsuba with feather fans and gold eyelets (EAX.10201)    Tsuba with chrysanthemoid florets and dewdrops (EAX.10202)    Tsuba in the form of two overlapping oak leaves (EAX.10203)

Tsuba with lotus leaves and dewdrops (EAX.10204)    Tsuba with peony flowers (EAX.10205)    Tsuba with two maple leaves (EAX.10206)

Tsuba with symbols of poem-writing at the Tanabata Festival (EAX.10207)    Tsuba depicting a property boat used in nō drama (EAX.10208)    Tsuba with two bows (EAX.10209)

Tsuba with radial lines (EAX.10210)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with fan mounts depicting a phoenix and a unicorn (EAX.10211)    Tsuba with a hare, dragon, and tiger (EAX.10212)

Tsuba with peonies (EAX.10213)    Tsuba with roped edges and heraldic devices (EAX.10214)    Tsuba with peach and leaves (EAX.10215)

Tsuba with a Chinese fan and butterflies (EAX.10216)    Tsuba with broad bean, leaves, and tendrils (EAX.10217)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with swastikas (EAX.10218)

Tsuba with cherry blossoms (EAX.10219)    Tsuba with family crests of the Aoyama of Sasyama and the Hosokawa of Higo (EAX.10220)    Tsuba with bamboo and cherry blossoms (EAX.10221)

Round tsuba with peonies and butterflies (EAX.10222)    Tsuba with autumn flowers (EAX.10223)    Tsuba with an orchid and hexagons (EAX.10224)

Tsuba with grape vine (EAX.10225)    Tsuba with plum blossoms and dewdrops amid snow (EAX.10226)    Octagonal tsuba in the form of a lotus leaf (EAX.10227)

Tsuba in the form of a lotus leaf (EAX.10228)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba in the form of a coiled snake (EAX.10229)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba in the form of a coiled snake (EAX.10230)

Tsuba with cycad leaves and a radish (EAX.10231)    Tsuba with plum trees and flying birds (EAX.10232)    Tsuba with blossoming plum tree (EAX.10233)

Mokkō-shaped tsuba with snow crystals, ants, and leaves (EAX.10234)    Lenticular tsuba with ferns (EAX.10235)    Mokkō-shaped tsuba with cherry flowers and snow heaps (EAX.10236)

Tsuba with reed (EAX.10237)