Places to see Samurai arts (swords, fittings etc) in London?

[Lewis B]

Visiting London today and plan to stop at the Toshiba gallery at the V&A. Besides this venue are there any other galleries and retailers with a good selection of Koto blades worth checking out, on permanent or temporary exhibition?

[The Blacksmith]

The British Museum have a good collection, though I am not sure how many items are on show there these days.

[Gakusee]

Apart from the V&A and BM, the Tower used to have some tachi and katchu (even though the majority are now in the Armoury in Leeds) and also the Wallace Collection should have some Japanese items. 
The Japanese Gallery in Kensington is a well known swords and prints dealership, Peter Finer sometimes has Japanese swords, etc…

 

You need to plan these things in advance and not post a last-minute request on NMB. Remember - this is the physical world, where appointments and planning are necessary versus the virtual world of insta-posting  

[1kinko]

If you ask them know in advance they will probably let you see anything they own. I asked in advance and the Ashmolean Museum brought out all their Ishiguro School tsuba for me hold, examine, and photograph.

[John C]

Imperial War Museum - but it takes a whole day.

 

John C.

[Rivkin]

Unfortunately when it comes to blades, there is not much to see in Europe as a whole on display.

[The Blacksmith]

The Wallace Collection have a couple of swords and a couple of kabuto, but noting much really. That said, if you like European arms and armour, then the Wallace Collection is an absolute must......and its free!  Their collection of old master paintings is absolutely mouthwatering too! It is well worth a vist, and is just behind Selfridges in Oxford Street.

 

As for the Imperial War Museum, well, like the National Army Museum at Chelsea, they have a few swords, but they are not displayes well and are probably more concerened with who owned them rather than the quality of the item itself.

[Lewis B]

15 hours ago, Rivkin said:

Unfortunately when it comes to blades, there is not much to see in Europe as a whole on display.

Sadly all too true. V&A Toshiba room was a total disappointment. 2 swords with very poor lighting. The best was this Osafune Bizen Morimitsu from the early Muromachi era (~1400).

Far better to attend the Utrecht Japan Art Expo, local clubs or private individuals. 

 

[The Blacksmith]

Amongst the blades that the V&A have is a Masamune (M20-1912). They also have some outstanding armours, uncluding the fabulous Doi armour. But, as always, possibly not much is on show.

 

Masamune blade V&A

 

 

The Doi armour.