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The obverse of this tsuba shows a plum tree with a horned owl (Japanese: mimizuku, 木菟) with one of the branches stretching onto the reverse. Most parts of the plate have been left undecorated and towards the top we see some clouds with gold accents.
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Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Horned Owl in Plum Tree (梅樹に木菟図鐔)
Date: 19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Brass, copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, copper
Dimensions: H. 3 in. (7.6 cm); W. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4.3 oz. (121.9 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
Object Number: 91.1.778
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