唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (Tsuba)
The Washida School was founded by Mitsutoki (光時, 1743–1803), the son of a samurai from the northern part of Japan (Shōnai domain, present-day Yamagata Prefecture) who went to Edo (Tokyo) to become a sword-fitting maker. Mitsunaka (光中, 1830–1889), who made this sword guard (tsuba), was one of the school’s last great artists. He focused on the revival of classical sword-fitting designs, as is the case with the scrolling leaves in flush inlay here, decoration seen on many sixteenth-century sword guards.
Artwork Details
- Title: 唐草図鐔 Sword Guard (Tsuba)
- Fittings maker: Inscribed by 鷲田光中作 Washida Mitsunaka (Japanese, 1830–1889)
- Date: 19th century
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Iron, silver, copper
- Dimensions: L. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); W. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4.8 oz. (136.1 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
- Object Number: 29.100.1053
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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