Sword Guard (Tsuba) With the Motif of Thousand Monkeys (千疋猿図鐔)
This tsuba shows a great number of densely arranged monkeys carved out in three-dimensional openwork (nikubori ji-sukashi), an interpretation which is referred to as "Thousand Monkeys" (senbiki-zaru). The edge of the hitsu-ana (opening for scabbard accessory) and the rim are decorated in gold nunome-zōgan. The motif of Thousand Monkeys was the hallmark of the Yagami School (矢上) which was based in Hizen province (present-day Nagasaki Prefecture). Representative master of the Yagami School was Mitsuhiro (光広) who was active in the second half of the 18th century. His name was then used on a hereditary basis until the end of the feudal era (1868).
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) With the Motif of Thousand Monkeys (千疋猿図鐔)
- Date: 18th–19th century
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Iron, gold
- Dimensions: H. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4 oz. (113.4 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.751
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Japanese
late 14th century
Omori Hidenaga
18th century
Hirata School
ca. 1615–1868
Japanese
5th century
鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka
19th century
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