Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Eagle Preying on Monkey (猿捕食猛禽図鐔)
This tsuba shows on the obverse an eagle preying on a monkey who is hiding under a tree. The eagle is interpreted in bas-relief and highlighted in gold and occupies the entire upper left corner of the plate. The monkey, who is highlighted in gold as well, is carefully looking up, clinching to the tree, and being both visible on the obverse and reverse. The rim is wide and gilded.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba) Depicting Eagle Preying on Monkey (猿捕食猛禽図鐔)
- Date: 19th century
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Possibly copper-silver alloy shibuichi), gold, silver, copper
- Dimensions: H. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); W. 2 7/8 in. (9.8 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 cm); Wt. 5.5 oz. (155.9 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.785
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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