Sword Guard (Tsuba) With the Motif of Two Rain Dragons (双雨龍図南蛮鐔)

ca. 1615–1868

Not on view

This Nanban-tsuba (南蛮鐔) shows on the obverse (omote) the flush design of two rain dragons (amaryō) which are embedded into an arabesque pattern. The rim area is set off and decorated in a Greek key motif on both sides. The reverse (ura</i<) shows an arrangement of auspicious symbols (takara-zukushi): scrolls, an arrangement of four spindles (shippō), a clove, a weight, and a hollyhock leaf.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) With the Motif of Two Rain Dragons (双雨龍図南蛮鐔)
Date: ca. 1615–1868
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, copper, silver, silver-copper alloy (shibuichi)
Dimensions: H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); W. 2 11/16 in. (6.8 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Wt. 4.8 oz. (136.1 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Object Number: 91.1.760
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Japanese
late 14th century

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Omori Hidenaga Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, copper, silver, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Omori Hidenaga
18th century

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Hirata School Japanese, Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, enameled cloisonné (shippō), copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Hirata School
ca. 1615–1868

唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>), 鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka Japanese, Iron, silver, copper, Japanese — 唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (*Tsuba*)
鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka
19th century

Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (<i>Ken</i>), Steel, Japanese — Blade for a Double-Edged Sword (*Ken*)
Japanese
5th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.