Sword Guard (Tsuba) With Shishi Lion and Peonies Motif (獅子牡丹図鐔)
This tsuba shows a shishi lion who crawls through one of the hitsu-ana (opening for scabbard accessory) which is carved to represent a rock formation, thus half of his body is carved out of the obverse and half of the reverse. A large and prominent peony is depicted at the bottom right of the obverse and so the motif alludes to the Nō play Shakkyō (石橋), The Stone Bridge, which features a famous scene of a shishi lion dancing among peonies.
Tsu Jinpo (1721-1762), first name Hachizaemon (八左衛門), was an Edo-based artist who had studied with the fourth Nomura master Masamichi (正道, 1707-1754) but who is also assumed to have trained with Gotō School.
Tsu Jinpo (1721-1762), first name Hachizaemon (八左衛門), was an Edo-based artist who had studied with the fourth Nomura master Masamichi (正道, 1707-1754) but who is also assumed to have trained with Gotō School.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) With Shishi Lion and Peonies Motif (獅子牡丹図鐔)
- Date: 18th–19th century
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Brass (sentoku)
- Dimensions: H. 3 1/16 in. (7.8 cm); W. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); thickness 1/8 in. (0.3 cm); Wt. 4.9 oz. (138.9 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.781
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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