Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Fittings maker Inscribed by Kanō Natsuo Japanese

Decorator Inscribed by 紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi Japanese

mid-19th century

Not on view

Kanō Natsuo, the last great maker of sword fittings, decorated the front; his co-worker Toshiyoshi decorated the reverse. The commissioner of the tsuba is identified as Shirase. It features a design of a kingfisher on a branch.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba)
Fittings maker: Inscribed by Kanō Natsuo (Japanese, 1828–1898)
Decorator: Inscribed by 紫原壽良画 Murasakibara Toshiyoshi (Japanese, recorded 1865–84)
Date: mid-19th century
Culture: Japanese
Medium: Copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), copper-gold alloy (shakudō), gold, silver, copper
Dimensions: H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 4.3 oz. (121.9 g)
Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Gift of Howard Mansfield, 1936
Object Number: 36.120.101
Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

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