Sword Guard (Tsuba) With Elephant Motif (象図鐔)
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.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) With Elephant Motif (象図鐔)
- Date: ca. 1615–1868
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Iron, gold, silver, copper, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
- Dimensions: H. 3 in. (7.6 cm); W. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Wt. 4.2 oz. (119.1 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.762
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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Omori Hidenaga
18th century
Japanese
late 14th century
Hirata School
ca. 1615–1868
鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka
19th century
Japanese
5th century
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