Unknown Maker, Japanese

Using a drill (kiri) to cut stippled circles from the paper base, a stencil maker created this example. It evokes constellations of stars or weather patterns (dai-shō arare), as well as the texture of sharkskin, also known as shagreen (same). Because the hilts of samurai swords were covered in sharkskin leather, textiles printed to resemble sharkskin were reserved patterns available only to certain elite people within Japanese society. The tanned leather of a shark or ray was used to provide a nubbly grip on the handle of this sword in the museum collection.