Sword Guard (Tsuba)
This iron tsuba shows on both sides an arrangement of butterflies which occupies entire plate.
The artist Masatoyo (正豊), real name Okada Toyosaburō (岡田豊三郎), was originally from Nagato province (present-day Yamaguchi Prefeture) but later moved to Edo where he studied with the Itō (伊藤) School master Masatsune (正常). There exists a dated work from Tenpō eleven (天保, 1840) which roughly informs us about his active period. Masatoyo’s workshop was located in the Negishi (根岸) neighborhood of Edo’s Shitaya (下谷) district.
The artist Masatoyo (正豊), real name Okada Toyosaburō (岡田豊三郎), was originally from Nagato province (present-day Yamaguchi Prefeture) but later moved to Edo where he studied with the Itō (伊藤) School master Masatsune (正常). There exists a dated work from Tenpō eleven (天保, 1840) which roughly informs us about his active period. Masatoyo’s workshop was located in the Negishi (根岸) neighborhood of Edo’s Shitaya (下谷) district.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sword Guard (Tsuba)
- Date: ca. 1830–1860
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Iron, copper-gold alloy (shakudō)
- Dimensions: H. 2 3/4 in. (7 cm); W. 2 9/16 in. (6.5 cm); thickness 3/16 in. (0.5 cm); Wt. 3.9 oz. (110.6 g)
- Classification: Sword Furniture-Tsuba
- Credit Line: Edward C. Moore Collection, Bequest of Edward C. Moore, 1891
- Object Number: 91.1.804
- Curatorial Department: Arms and Armor
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