Sword Guard (Tsuba) With (probably) the Motif of The Seven Sages in the Bamboo Groove (竹林七賢か透鐔)

ca. 1615–1868

Not on view

This Sōten (宗典) School tsuba shows five Chinese figures in three-dimensional openwork (nikubori ji-sukashi) which are colored in gold, silver, copper, and shakudō. One person is getting portrayed by a painter and the remaining three appear to carry standards which suggests that they are retainers of the sitting person that is portrayed. Although set in a pine grove, the motif may represent that of The Seven Sages in the Bamboo Grove (Chikurin no shichiken, 竹林七賢) which is frequently found on works from this school.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) With (probably) the Motif of The Seven Sages in the Bamboo Groove (竹林七賢か透鐔)
Date: ca. 1615–1868
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Iron, gold, copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
Dimensions: Diam. 3 9/16 in. (9 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4.7 oz. (133.2 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Object Number: 91.1.754
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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19th century

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