Sword guard (Tsuba) With Sumō Wrestling Motif (相撲図鐔)

ca. 1615–1868
Not on view
This polished shibuichi tsuba shows on its obverse two Sumō wrestlers and a referee. The reverse is apart from the straw enclosure of the ring and the bucket with "power water" (chikara-mizu, 力水), from which a wrestler ceremonially rinses out his mouth prior to a bout, undecorated.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Sword guard (Tsuba) With Sumō Wrestling Motif (相撲図鐔)
  • Date: ca. 1615–1868
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper, gold, silver, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
  • Dimensions: H. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 cm); Wt. 5.4 oz. (153.1 g)
  • Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
  • Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
  • Object Number: 91.1.796
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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