波濤に岩上鷹図大小 Sword Guard (Tsuba)

Fittings maker Inscribed by 石黒政常 Ishiguro Masatsune Japanese
late 18th–early 19th century
Not on view
This is the larger guard of a matching pair of sword guards (daishō-tsuba) made by Ishiguro Masatsune (石黒政常, 1760–1828) (pair with 43.120.724). It features a hawk perched on a rock above the sea. The depiction of birds and flowers was the forte of the Ishiguro School, which was established by Masatsune toward the end of the eighteenth century. The solemn character of their interpretations, seen here in the magnificent birds of prey, made Ishiguro works popular among Samurai and elevated the school to one of the most thriving centers of sword-fitting production in Edo (present-day Tokyo).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: 波濤に岩上鷹図大小 Sword Guard (Tsuba)
  • Fittings maker: Inscribed by 石黒政常 Ishiguro Masatsune (Japanese, 1760–1828)
  • Date: late 18th–early 19th century
  • Culture: Japanese
  • Medium: Copper-gold alloy (shakudō), copper-silver alloy (shibuichi), gold, copper
  • Dimensions: H. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); W. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); thickness 5/16 in. (0.8 cm); Wt. 5.7 oz. (161.6 g)
  • Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
  • Credit Line: Gift of Herman A. E. and Paul C. Jaehne, 1943
  • Object Number: 43.120.723
  • Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.