Sword Guard (Tsuba) With Elephant Motif (象図鐔)

Japanese

Not on view

The plate of this tsuba is finished with hammerblows (tsuchime) on both sides and the obverse shows may refer to one of the rare occasions when live elephants have been introduced to Japan (i.e. in 1408, 1575, 1597, 1602, 1728, and 1813). Three non-Japanese figures accompany the animal; one carrying a banner, one a drum, and one sitting on the back of the elephant blowing a trumpet. Towards the top right, a pine is engraved which stretches into the reverse which is only sparsely decorated.

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With Elephant Motif (象図鐔), Iron, gold, silver, copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), Japanese

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Obverse

Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With Elephant Motif (象図鐔), Iron, gold, silver, copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), Japanese
Sword Guard (<i>Tsuba</i>) With Elephant Motif (象図鐔), Iron, gold, silver, copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), Japanese

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