Ceremonial Arrowhead (<i>Yanone</i>) 1645

This 17th-century Japanese ceremonial arrowhead, known as a *yanone*, was crafted by the renowned metalworker Umetada Motoshige. The silver arrowhead is intricately decorated with a pierced design featuring a pair of cranes standing among stylized reeds and clouds. The arrowhead's detailed and elegant craftsmanship showcases Motoshige's skill and the artistic tradition of Japanese metalwork during the Edo period. The *yanone* would have served a symbolic purpose, perhaps as a gift or a decorative object for a samurai warrior, reflecting the importance of weaponry and aesthetics in Japanese culture.