Well done Gav! I hadn't heard of that one, at least I can't remember.....I've got to do some excavation here in the bookmobile to see if I can find my notes on this topic! Hmmmm............closet? oven? ........under the bed?
Nicely carved piece BTW.....I am wondering if the carved ivory is significant for status, or if perhaps there were regional preferences. From what I have understood, Ainu edged weapons were virtually always ceremonial in sense, except for the utility of the knives 'makiri' as Peter has described.
I cannot think of the term for sword offhand but I think it is 'emushi' or to that effect. I do recall that the woven and highly decorated sash used in wearing the sword is of key personal importance, and received nearly as much attention as the sword itself.
I believe also that at the St. Louis exposition, there were a group of Ainu brought there, and actually worked at thier amazing crafts while there. There were a good number of Ainu items, especially some of the weapons, that came out of this exhibition and many became part of the holdings in some museums, I think including the Smithsonian.
I think it is fascinating to learn more on this people, and the isolated place they held away from general history for so long, despite being so highly active in trade and intercontinental contact. I can recall over the years that items that were Ainu were so incredibly esoteric that they were often wildly misidentified, though in most cases at least there was some plausibility involved.
Peter, I've noticed that one feature that seems consistant with the Ainu weapons is the overall arc shape when the weapon is sheathed. Is there any particular significance symbolically or in Ainu tradition to which this might be associated?
All the best,
Jim