Sword guard (Tsuba) With Cherry Blossom Motif (桜図鐔)

mid-18th century

Not on view

This iron tsuba shows a blossoming cherry tree in relief and openwork which also organically forms the openings for scabbard accessories (hitsu-ana), of which one is plugged with gold. The tips of the cherry blossoms are partially highlighted in gold and the rim is gilded as well.

Masanaga (正長), first name Chōsuke (長助), was an artist of the Odawara Itō (小田原伊藤) School and had studied with the second Odawara Itō master Masatsugu (正次). He later moved to Edo.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Title: Sword guard (Tsuba) With Cherry Blossom Motif (桜図鐔)
Date: mid-18th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, gold
Dimensions: H. 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.9 oz. (110.6 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. George A. Crocker (Elizabeth Masten), 1937
Object Number: 38.25.11
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

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

Helmet in the Shape of a Crouching Rabbit, Iron, lacquer, silver, gold, leather, silk, Japanese — Helmet in the Shape of a Crouching Rabbit
Japanese
17th century

Helmet (<i>Hoshi- Kabuto</i>) in the 16th-Century Style, Saotome Ienari Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, Japanese — Helmet (*Hoshi- Kabuto*) in the 16th-Century Style
Saotome Ienari
probably late 17th–early 18th century

Sword Guard (Tsuba), Iron, gold, enameled cloisonné (shippō), copper, Japanese — Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Japanese
17th century

Dagger with Scabbard, Steel, iron, gold, rubies, emeralds, glass, wood, textile, Indian, Mughal — Dagger with Scabbard
Indian, Mughal
1605–27

Hunting Sword and Scabbard, Steel, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), gold, wood, ray skin, hilt, Japanese, made for the European market — Hunting Sword and Scabbard
hilt, Japanese, made for the European market
hilt, ca. 1700; blade, ca. 1700–1725

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.