Sword guard (Tsuba) Depicting Minamoto no Hiromasa Playing the Flute (源博雅図鐔)
Making use of only bas relief and engravings, this tsuba shows nobleman and court musician Minamoto no Hiromasa (源博雅, 918-980) playing a transverse flute under a pine tree during a moonlit night, being joined by another person.
The tsuba is signed Karyūsai (芲竜斎) which was the art name of the independent Kyōto artist Yamashita Bokusen (山下牧川) whose first name was Bunnai (文内) and who was active towards the end of the 18th century.
The tsuba is signed Karyūsai (芲竜斎) which was the art name of the independent Kyōto artist Yamashita Bokusen (山下牧川) whose first name was Bunnai (文内) and who was active towards the end of the 18th century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword guard (Tsuba) Depicting Minamoto no Hiromasa Playing the Flute (源博雅図鐔)
- Date: ca. 1615–1868
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Copper, copper-silver alloy (shibuichi)
- Dimensions: H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4.2 oz. (119.1 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.793
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Omori Hidenaga
18th century
Japanese
late 14th century
Hirata School
ca. 1615–1868
Ishiguro Masayoshi
19th century
Japanese
5th century
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