Another example of the trade activity with Japan during the 17th century, via the Dutch East India Company, is the sword and the cane below. The very fine Sakudo fittings were made in Japan in 17th century for the European market, and were mounted in Europe on the dress sword blade. The Tsar Peter the Great has presented the sword and the cane to the August the Strong of Saxony during his trip from Holland to Russia. The second, very similar sword he has kept to himself – it is kept in Kremlin Armory in Moscow, and it was exhibited earlier this year in Dresden (see ‘Zwischen Orient und Okzident: Kunstschätze des Kreml von Iwan dem Schrecklichen bis Peter dem Großen’ catalogue). Most probably, he acquired both swords in Holland.
I was lucky to see the both swords, but it will be difficult in the future: the Peter’s sword returned to Moscow and the August’s sword is not exhibited anymore… The whole Dresdner Armory (I mean exhibition rooms :-) has moved from the old large hall in Zwinger to the newly restored Dresdner Palace, and has got less place and much! less swords shown… Especially the European collection has suffered… So the blurry pictures I have taken in the old armory, where I have spent earlier many hours, look pretty nostalgic to me…
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