Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Two Dragons Chasing a Gem (玉追い双龍図南蛮鐔)

Japanese

Not on view

This Nanban-tsuba (南蛮鐔) shows a a three-dimensional openwork (nikubori ji-sukashi) of two dragongs chasing after a gem, which is shown at the top center of the plate, all of which embedded into an arabesque design (karakusa). At the bottom center, a seal script character is shown on both sides which is highlighted in gold nunome-zōgan. One of the characters might be (嵩), possibly a reference to Mt. Song (Sōngshān, 嵩山), one of the Five Great Mountains of China. The two hitsu-ana (openings for scabbard accessories) are organically shaped from the design of the dragons and arabesques.

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Two Dragons Chasing a Gem (玉追い双龍図南蛮鐔), Iron, gold, copper, Japanese

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Obverse

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Two Dragons Chasing a Gem (玉追い双龍図南蛮鐔), Iron, gold, copper, Japanese
Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) Depicting Two Dragons Chasing a Gem (玉追い双龍図南蛮鐔), Iron, gold, copper, Japanese

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