Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Lily Motif (百合図鐔)

mid-19th century

Not on view

The obverse of this tsuba shows three lily (Japanese: yuri, 百合), two open with their flowers occupying the upper and bottom right areas, and one closed flower closed towards the left. The pistils are inlaid in gold and slilver and the reverse makes use of much undecorated space, showing just one lily with two closed flowers.

Kaneyasu studied with master Tanaka Tōryūsai Kiyotoshi (田中東龍斎清寿, 1804-1876) in Edo and moved afterwards to Aizu where he also worked in the local Aizu-Shōami style. Kaneyasu’s real name was Iwata Bennosuke (岩田弁之助). There is a dated work from Kōka four (弘化, 1847) known which roughly informs us about his active period.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) with Lily Motif (百合図鐔)
Date: mid-19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, gold, silver, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
Dimensions: H. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm); W. 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm); thickness 1/4 in. (0.6 cm); Wt. 7.2 oz. (g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Object Number: 91.1.768
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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